The award is given to a practicing community-based medical doctor who has shown outstanding leadership or innovation in the use of health IT in medical practice. Dr. Wadden is the chair of the Information Technology Steering Committee for Doctors Nova Scotia, and co-chair of the association’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Program Steering Committee. He adopted Nightingale-On-Demand EMR system in his own practice in 2006. “Dr. Wadden has used his own practice as an incubator for innovation with a high value of clinical functionality to improve his patients’ access to timely care and to ensure they participate in appropriate screening programs,” said Steve Anderson, chief privacy officer at Doctors Nova Scotia. Mr. Anderson nominated Dr. Wadden for the award, on behalf of Doctors Nova Scotia, after spending almost eight years working with him on technology and health-care issues. “His practice is efficiently managed and financially sustainable and that’s where many physicians struggle,” said Mr. Anderson. Dr. Wadden’s advice is sought after by many physicians navigating the EMR adoption decision process. He has been involved in providing leadership for new physicians establishing practices in his community by troubleshooting issues during implementation and sharing his EMR “favourites” and clinical health maintenance reports. He also advocates for EMR integration on both a local and provincial level. “Electronic medical records, with the proper integration and functionality, could become an important tool in a physician’s practice, as important as an EKG or a stethoscope,” said Dr. Wadden. “The only way this is going to happen is if physicians get involved personally with the creation, development and implementation of all aspects of electronic medical records in the province,” he added. Mr. Anderson said Dr. Wadden’s expertise in all aspects of EMRs has been of significant value to Doctors Nova Scotia. From tackling difficult and complex issues such as EMR solution strategies, to interoperability priorities and migration planning, he has provided sound advice and leadership. “Dr. Wadden’s ability to represent all communities of practice speaks to his deep understanding of the value that EMR adoption represents to both physicians and all Nova Scotians,” said Mr. Anderson. His abilities and leadership has been recognized by colleagues through their support of his participation in several high-profile clinical positions within the health-care community. These include his co-chairing the Provincial Tri-Partite EMR Program Steering Committee, being a physician lead on the Doctors Nova Scotia Master Agreement EMR Working Group, and serving as a PHIM program peer leader. He is also past chair of the PHIM User Group, and the current Doctors Nova Scotia representative on the Canadian Medical Association’s Health Information Technology National Working Group. A Dalhousie Medical School graduate, Dr. Wadden is active with the Valley Regional Hospital providing on-call support, rounds, and delivering his patients’ babies. He provides his aging and geriatric patients with home visitations when required. |