Progress Continues to be Made with Implementation of Electronic Health Records

Newfoundland and Labrador is positioned to be among the first three provinces in Canada to establish an Electronic Health Record that captures health information from multiple sources. The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services, continued to outline the Provincial Government’s progress in implementing this valuable information sharing and patient safety process.

“An Electronic Health Record system is a complex piece of work that cannot simply be switched on,” said Minister Sullivan. “It involves multiple aspects of the health care system including hospitals, emergency departments, pharmacies, physicians, patients and other health care providers. We have taken great strides, leveraging federal funding and working with stakeholders and our partners to keep this project moving forward. However, we are dealing with private patient information and we must do that in a responsible and diligent manner, with patient safety and privacy always at the forefront.”

There are five areas of the Electronic Health Record that have been implemented. These components now provide the ability to remotely review diagnostic images, a Client Registry to help link patient data, a Provider Registry, telehealth services for remote or long-distance health care consultations, and the Pharmacy Network, which has connected more than 70 pharmacies in the province.

Another component of an Electronic Health Record is an Electronic Medical Record, which is a computerized medical record that is used in a hospital or physician’s office. To identify the best means to implement an Electronic Medical Record program, consultation will take place with stakeholders who will play a key role in advancing the initiative on an as-needed basis.

In addition to this update, Minister Sullivan is also responding to criticism from the Third Party that the Minister of Health and Community Services should not be interacting with the people of the province, listening to what they have to say and highlighting where the government is investing tax payers money.

“Being on the ground in communities, interacting with patients, and meeting staff who deliver services is extremely beneficial for me as the Minister, as it provides me the opportunity to see our investments at work,” said Minister Sullivan. “In smaller communities like Buchans, Botwood or Twillingate these investments mean a lot. It is important that as a government we engage directly with people. I will make no apologies for meeting with residents and listening to what they have to say.”

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Media contact:
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca

2013 07 29                                       6:45 p.m.