Santis Health gets a founder’s perspective on the future of EMRs, AI, and patient engagement.
The Santis Health podcast is a respected platform for health system leaders across Canada, and the inaugural episode of their Digital Health Founders Series featured Accuro EMR. Santis Health hosted Mike Checkley, President and co-founder of Accuro EMR, for a deep dive into the evolution of digital health and the future of care delivery.
The Reach of Santis Health
Santis Health is a Canadian public affairs and strategic advisory firm that works exclusively in the health care and life sciences sectors. With offices in Toronto and Ottawa, Santis provides policy development, communications, stakeholder engagement, and management consulting to some of the most influential organizations in Canadian health care.
“These systems didn’t just emerge from the ether… They were built by people who made thousands of choices. And those choices are shaping how healthcare works today.” —Ben King, Santis Health
AccuroEMR: From Startup to National Platform
In the episode, Mike Checkley shares the origin story of Accuro EMR, which began as a university project in 2003. With co-founders Brian Ellis and Lisa St. Laurent, and guidance from Dr. Tom Kinahan, the team built a solution that addressed real problems in specialist workflows, like billing, consult letters, and waitlist management.
Today, Accuro supports over 24,000 physicians and 4 million patients, making it one of the most widely used EMRs in Canada.
Key Themes from the Interview
- Scaling with Purpose
Mike emphasized Accuro’s growth through customer referrals, acquisition of legacy EMRs, and provincial subsidy programs. He credited the company’s success to its product-led strategy and deep configurability, allowing clinics to tailor workflows to their needs.
“Our customers’ use of the product is the number one business strategy we have; that’s what matters foundationally.” —Mike Checkley
- Patient Engagement
Accuro’s Medeo Patient app, originally built for online booking, now supports secure messaging, video visits, and file sharing. Nearly half of Accuro clinics use it today.
- The Future of EMRs
Mike outlined two major innovation paths:
- Interoperability: Moving beyond fax machines to real-time, internet-based communication between providers and patients.
- AI Integration: Using AI to augment EMRs, starting with scribing and summarization, and eventually supporting clinical decision-making.
“We see AI as an augmentation to the EMR system. It doesn’t replace it—but it can make it much faster to use.” —Mike Checkley
Visibility That Matters
Being featured by Santis Health places Accuro in the company of Canada’s most influential health innovators. It highlights Accuro’s role not just as a technology vendor, but as a strategic partner in shaping the future of care.
“The future of digital health in Canada is also the future of healthcare in Canada.” —Ben King
Mike Checkley, President, Accuro
Featured via Santis Health Podcast