Understanding how patients and providers experience eHealth and virtual care to inform more inclusive and equitable approaches to healthcare.
Engaging Communities with eHealth and Virtual Health
This program of research seeks to understand the benefits, challenges, and implications of virtual care delivery for patients from diverse communities and the healthcare providers who care for them. As digital health technologies become increasingly integrated into healthcare systems, there is a need to better understand how virtual care influences access, engagement, and care experiences across different populations.
Alberta’s provincial digital health infrastructure supports patient access to health information and facilitates participation in care through a range of digital tools. Alongside traditional in-person visits, healthcare services may be delivered through telephone or video-based technologies. This research examines how patients and providers experience these various care modalities and identifies factors that influence the accessibility, effectiveness, and equity of virtual care.
By generating evidence on the use of virtual care in diverse communities, this work aims to inform patient-centred approaches to digital health and support equitable healthcare delivery.
This process evaluation examined how virtual diabetes care was implemented and experienced during the pandemic. This work was completed in partnership with the Diabetes Centre Calgary and has shaped current diabetes virtual care delivery.
- Kozak S, Idowu J, Rabi DD. Utilizing Virtual Care Patient Appointment Modalities in Diabetes Care. White paper. Published January 2026.
The Canadian Collaboration for Complex Care (C4) partnered with Alberta Health to better understand Albertans’ health information and digital service needs as part of provincial efforts to advance eHealth and strengthen community engagement. This work contributed to the development of a Framework for Community Engagement and helped inform strategies to support the health and well-being of Albertans through digital health innovation.
The findings revealed a strong interest among Albertans in having timely access to their personal health information, ensuring the security and accuracy of health data, and using technology to improve communication and information sharing across their circle of care. The research also explored Albertans’ experiences with existing eHealth tools and services, identifying generally positive perceptions and a high level of satisfaction among users.
Overall, the findings highlight the important role of eHealth in supporting patient engagement, enabling individuals to better understand their health information, participate more actively in care decisions, and take a greater role in managing their health and well-being.
- Rabi, D., Uwamahoro MC., Bele S., Popeski N., Chowdhury T. 2023. eHealth Modernization and intentional Inclusivity. Report submitted to Alberta Health.
- Kozak S., Babione J., Idowu J., Popeski N., Rabi D. (2023). Citizen Perspectives on the Future of eHealth in Alberta. Report submitted to Alberta Health.
- C4 Collaboration. An Overview of eHealth Public Discourse in Alberta. (2023). Infographic submitted to Alberta Health.
This study, completed in partnership with the EMBRACE Lab under the leadership of Dr. Jamie Benham, examined patient experiences with virtual care for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a pregnancy-related condition associated with elevated blood glucose levels that requires timely monitoring and clinical management to support maternal and infant health outcomes.
The research explored how women experienced virtual models of care while managing GDM, including the benefits and challenges associated with accessing healthcare services remotely. Understanding these experiences is essential as digital health technologies become increasingly embedded within maternity care.
- Conference Presentations
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2026, May 12–15). The patient experience of receiving virtual care for gestational diabetes. [Poster Presentation]. Organization for the Study of Sex Differences (OSSD) Annual Conference, Waikoloa Village, HI, USA.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2026, April 21–22). Optimizing virtual care for gestational diabetes: exploring patient needs along critical stages in the care journey. [Poster Presentation]. CSCI-CITAC Annual Joint Meeting (AJM) 2026, Toronto, ON, Canada.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2025, November 20-21). The patient experience of receiving virtual care for gestational diabetes – research update. [Unpublished Abstract and Poster Presentation]. Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2025, November 5). The patient experience of receiving virtual care for gestational diabetes – research update. [Unpublished Abstract and Poster Presentation]. Leaders in Medicine Annual Research Symposium, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2025, June 13). The patient experience of receiving virtual care for gestational diabetes – research update. [Unpublished Abstract and Poster Presentation]. Person to Population (P2) Cardiovascular Research Retreat, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2025, February 18). The patient experience of receiving virtual care for gestational diabetes – research proposal. [Oral Presentation]. Libin Cardiovascular Institute Research Update Seminar Series, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Knowledge Translation Presentations
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2026, May 1). Optimizing care for gestational diabetes in Alberta: Exploring patient needs along critical points of the care journey. [Oral Presentation]. Calgary’s Endocrine Rounds, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Brudnyi, S., Kozak, S., Martino, A., Brennand, E., Tehrin, S., Rabi, D. M., & Benham, J. L. (2026, March 25). Optimizing care for gestational diabetes in Alberta: Exploring patient needs along critical points of the care journey. [Oral Presentation]. Alberta’s Provincial Diabetes Steering Committee, Edmonton, AB, Canada.