Providing information on emerging health technologies to provincial decision makers: a pilot project.

A pilot project to provide advice on new and emerging medical technologies to decision makers in a provincial health care system was undertaken by a health technology assessment (HTA) program. Briefs were prepared on technologies which were not yet available in the province and which might have a significant impact on health care. These were sent to the ministry of health and regional health authorities and made available through the agency's website. Reaction to the briefs was sought from decision makers. Decision makers in the health ministry and health authorities found the briefs helpful, and wished to continue receiving them. They had made limited use of them for planning purposes, but the briefs provided useful input to further consideration of technologies in several cases. Within the HTA program, the briefs and the process that produced them were valuable in increasing awareness of new health technologies that might require assessment in future. This pilot project demonstrated the feasibility of providing timely advice on emerging health technologies within a provincial health system. However, while decision makers found the information provided to be useful, this had not yet been integrated with provincial health care planning. Necessary machinery within policy areas and communication with the HTA process appear to be in need of development.