Interior Health (IH) has a Digital Health (information technology) team committed to continuously adapting, responding and innovating to meet the needs of our population, while also supporting an efficient patient and provider experience.
The Digital Health team ensures resources and technology are used effectively across all geographic service areas. Meet two members of our dedicated digital health team who help make these new innovations possible.
Years of Service: 5
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: t'sek'wep'emc
Favourite motto: Luctor et Emergo – Struggle and Emerge!
Julie Schaffer was born in North Vancouver, B.C. and raised in Wilcox, Sask. She moved to Kamloops in 2016. She describes herself as “aggressively friendly and relentlessly helpful.”
Julie is part of the digital health education team for Royal Inland Hospital.
I'm grateful to be the first digital health physician educator this province has seen. I am passionate about interdisciplinary teamwork, communication, education and accessible leadership on the frontlines. The capacity to talk with all the different people I do in a day and to also work with computers, that’s what keeps me coming back!
The Interior Health moments she likes the best are projects that she’s worked on, incidents she’s been able to help with and patients she’s had the honour to work with – the day-to-day things. “When a colleague sees me come on the floor and feels safe to let go of all the tension they've built up and ask for the help they need… those are the times I know I've lived out my mission of being a leader on the frontline, to remain approachable and visible, and accessible to my team. That's when I feel the most pride.”
Julie looks forward to the future of digital health at IH, and the role of educators in digital health across the province. While Advancing Care Electronically (ACE) is a multifaceted topic for many folks, she looks forward to a future where roles like hers are more expansive, accessible, and able to support people on the frontline in a meaningful and impactful way.
“I'm really excited about the idea of establishing a digital health hub and touchdown space here at Royal Inland Hospital one day!”
Her twins keep her busy exploring the outdoors. She’s into slow-pitch softball, poker, making music and cooking delicious food. She’s a chronic hobbyist who loves to try new things. Besides playing every instrument in the marching band, she’s learning how to fly on a trapeze, sail a ship, shoot an arrow, crochet a set of reusable water balloons, clean out horseshoes, bake macrons and sing Italian Arias. “You name it, and I've probably tried it at least once!”
Years of Service: 5
Worksite: Community Health Services Centre/Kelowna Warehouse
Community: Kelowna
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan
Favourite Quote: The responsibilities you voluntarily take on give your life meaning; as such, accept as much responsibility as you can.
While Joseph Borojevic was born and raised in Burnaby, B.C., he is a first-generation Canadian and his first language is Croatian.
Joseph has worked in a number of industries before joining Interior Health (IH) as a programmer/systems analyst. “I worked in ‘big data’ for about 15 years, basically helping a big company get bigger and richer and, when the opportunity presented itself to join IH, I jumped at the chance to actually help people, as opposed to simply cash a cheque.”
A friend who knew Joseph was unhappy in the big-data environment recommended Joseph to consider Interior Health, specifically suggesting that Joseph might enjoy working with the Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) digital health team.
I appreciate the opportunity that IH provides, especially working in MHSU, to allow the work I do to make a real difference in the lives of the people in my community.
Through Joseph’s digital health role, he’s helped clinicians to be more efficient at their jobs, freeing up their time so that they can serve their clients better.
Family life is a top priority to Joseph. First and foremost, he sees himself as a husband, a father and a provider. Joseph’s life outside of IH involves running a five-acre farm, where his family grows apple and cherry trees. They also raise goats, chickens, ducks and turkeys. “I work on the farm daily, and I enjoy taking care of it.”
In whatever spare time is left after work, the farm and family, Joseph likes to try to put down four to eight cords of wood per year to heat their house with firewood during the winter.
Indigenous Patient Navigator Deb Donald has spent time in nearly every area of Royal Inland Hospital. There are few places in the hospital she hasn’t been.
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As a young child, Julie Davenport struggled to be understood. Now she oversees Early Childhood Development programs, thanks to a speech-language pathologist.
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Learn how to stay safe in B.C. waters when blue-green algae blooms, or cyanobacteria, are present.
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Moved by her son's health journey, Alana Haynes found her calling helping young patients at Kelowna General Hospital feel more at ease and parents reassured.
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Cheryl Whittleton’s 40-year IH career spans bedside care to senior leadership, grounded in compassion and a commitment to strengthening the future of nursing.
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What started as a travel plan quickly became something more permanent for Stasia Ruskie, a nurse from the U.S. who had always wanted to explore B.C..
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