Newfoundland and Labrador has achieved the goal of having more than 95 per cent of diagnostic images available digitally throughout the province to authorized health care providers, making it the second province in Canada to implement such a province-wide system.

"The use of digital imaging will improve the quality of care for the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, especially for those living in rural areas," said the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services. "Having this system up and running means that people living in a rural area such as St. Anthony can now have their diagnostic image taken at the local hospital and read by a clinician in any PACS site in the province."

In February 2006, the Provincial Government announced the development of a province-wide Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) by 2007. The $23-million project was funded through a Provincial Government investment of $12.4 million and a $10.6 million investment by Canada Health Infoway (Infoway).

PACS is an information system that allows diagnostic images such as X-rays, MRI, ultrasounds and CT scans to be captured, transmitted and stored digitally, and made available to clinicians regardless of where they are located or where the test was conducted. Traditionally, diagnostic images have been transferred, reviewed and analyzed in hard copy using film.

PACS will allow for immediate retrieval of images by clinicians, shorter turnaround times on radiology reports, improved access to diagnostic imaging services, and improved access to specialists through improved image portability. It will also reduce costs without having to process, handle and store film.

The project expanded diagnostic imaging to all regional health authorities and created a provincial archive for images and reports for X-rays, MRIs, Ultrasounds and CT scans. The Centre for Health Information managed the development and implementation of the project on behalf of the province and the regional health authorities.

"The PACS project implemented the first clinical information system that will be part of the Newfoundland and Labrador Electronic Health Record," said Bill Fanning, chair of the Board of Directors for the Centre for Health Information. "The fact that we were able to complete this project on time and on budget is due to the significant involvement and support of the radiologists, the regional health authorities, and our funders, Canada Health Infoway and the Department of Health and Community Services."

"Achieving such widespread use of electronic digital imaging throughout Newfoundland and Labrador is an incredible achievement benefiting clinicians and especially their patients," said Richard Alvarez, president and CEO of Canada Health Infoway, the federally-funded, independent not-for-profit organization which invests with public sector partners to accelerate electronic health records across Canada.  "Today�s announcement means patients from remote areas can benefit from the advice of specialists located far away without the usual delays geography create. This is about increasing access, uncovering efficiencies, and improving access to quality care � regardless of where patients live."

Infoway is leading the development and implementation of electronic health projects across Canada.  Infoway works with provinces and territories to invest in electronic health projects, which support safer, more efficient healthcare delivery.  Fully respecting patient confidentiality, these private and secure systems provide health care professionals with immediate access to complete and accurate patient information, enabling better decisions about diagnosis and treatment. The result is a sustainable health care system offering improved quality, accessibility, productivity and cost savings.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information was established by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to provide quality information to health professionals, the public, and health system decision-makers. Through collaboration with the health system, the centre supports the development of data and technical standards and maintains key health databases, prepares and distributes health reports, and supports and carries out applied health research and evaluations. The centre�s mandate also includes development of the Newfoundland and Labrador Electronic Health Record.

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Eastern Health

Central Health

Western Health

Labrador-Grenfell Health