Deb Matthews, Ontario Minister of Health and Long Term Care (right), presents the Award of Excellence for Innovation in Health Promotion to John Gallinger and Bonnie Schroeder for VON’s Caregiver-Connect web portal.
November 18, 2009 (Ottawa) - Dr. Judith Shamian, President and CEO of VON Canada, is proud to announce that Caregiver-Connect.ca has won the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Innovation in Health Promotion. This award, which spotlights outstanding initiatives from across the province of Ontario, was presented at the 2009 Innovations in Health Care Expo organized by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. The Health Expo showcases 250 initiatives that are driving health care system renewal in Ontario. Entrants were judged on overall quality of the applications and the visual excitement and interactivity of the presentations.
Caregiver-Connect.ca, which was launched by VON Canada in September, 2008, provides an innovative approach to service for family and friend caregivers. The bilingual web portal links caregivers to information, resources and tools that assist them to better care for themselves, family and friends, and connect with other caregivers. According to Dr. Shamian, “Caregiver-Connect represents a new service delivery model for VON Canada. By linking two of our priorities, care giving and technology, we have created a new model of excellence.” The portal has already been recognized by Accreditation Canada as a leading practice. The Minister’s Award of Excellence is another confirmation of the importance of VON’s work on behalf of Canada’s five million caregivers. For more information on Caregiver-Connect, please visit www.von.ca.
Media inquiries:
Louise Crandall, Manager, Public Affairs
613-288-4263
louise.crandall@von.ca