Learning Health Hub

Virtual Symposium 2024

June 2024 marked the official launch of the Learning Health Hub with a successful virtual symposium. Bringing together a diverse group of patient partners, researchers, healthcare providers, system leaders, trainees, and policymakers, the event focused on building momentum for a stronger Learning Health System (LHS) in Canada.

Through co-design with patient partners and LHS experts, the symposium provided a platform to:

  • Map existing LHS assets and expertise across the country

  • Identify key challenges and barriers to LHS implementation

  • Foster collaboration and network building among attendees

Over 130 healthcare leaders, researchers, and patients gathered for the Learning Health Hub’s inaugural virtual symposium. Following the first day of brainstorming, over 25 challenges were narrowed down to three key areas.

  • Enabling Environments

    Creating environments where learning thrives involves fostering leadership, embedding research processes, and cultivating curiosity. To do this, health systems must create cultures of trust, transparency, and inclusion in decision-making, and employ dedicated resources and synergistic governance.

  • Patient, Caregiver, & Community Partnership

    Establishing sustainable, trusting, and mutually beneficial relationships with patients, caregivers, and community members in LHS work was identified as essential for aligning LHS priorities, engagement processes, and knowledge sharing approaches with community needs and priorities. When engaging with patients, caregivers, and communities, symposium participants also highlighted the importance of incorporating diverse types of data, removing barriers to engagement, and ensuring partnership with equity-deserving groups.

  • Benchmarking & Evaluation

    Benchmarking and evaluation in LHS focus on how data is used, ensuring a shared understanding of goals, and co-defining the methods and approaches that are most appropriate across settings and evaluation types. Developing a common language around and about LHS as well as sharing tangible examples, promoting best practices, and using a mix of evaluation methods ensure continuous improvement and adaptation within health systems.