Health and Community Services
October 4, 2017
Minister Haggie Announces Approach to Develop a Shared Services eHealth Model
The Provincial Government today announced its approach to developing a province-wide shared services eHealth model for the health care system.
eHealth is all of the electronic, communication and technology tools used to share health and administrative information. The Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information (NLCHI) and the four regional health authorities (RHAs) presently manage these services separately, which leads to a duplication of resources and costs among the organizations.
The next phase in the shared services model is to determine how best to coordinate information technology and information management into one provincial model. One of the goals of this initiative is to ensure that all eHealth systems are designed with a province-wide mandate.
The provincial eHealth model will be led and managed by NLCHI. The first step will be for NLCHI to develop an implementation plan to oversee transition to this new model. Employees will continue to work where they work now with no changes to their roles and responsibilities. Key management employees will begin to report into NLCHI as part of the plan.
By April 2018, organizational and budgetary plans will be developed to support the full implementation, which is expected to take several years. Amendments to the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information Act are required and will be introduced in the upcoming fall session of the House of Assembly.
The Provincial Government engaged Healthtech Consultants, who identified eHealth as an area where benefits through integration and coordination could be realized. Based on this report, government approved the new eHealth model in consultation with NLCHI and the four RHAs. The consultant’s report is available online at: www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publications/pdf/Health_review_HealthTech.pdf
Quotes
“This initiative will maintain Newfoundland and Labrador’s position as a leader in the area of eHealth. Health care providers are more reliant now on technology to help with patient care and safety. This kind of a provincial model will create an integrated, efficient electronic health information system. If someone becomes ill and requires treatment outside their home community, we can be sure health care providers will have access to accurate, up-to-date, clinical information.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“This is a significant opportunity for NLCHI, the RHAs and all users of our health care system. Technology has become critical to health care delivery and sustainability. The decision to align eHealth services under NLCHI will provide an environment for innovation and integration throughout the province. From a physician’s perspective, having an interconnected eHealth system will enhance patient care and safety, and allow for a more informed decision-making process utilizing real time analysis and evaluation of health data and trends.”
Dr. Kris Aubrey-Bassler
Chair, NLCHI
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Learn More
Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information - www.nlchi.nl.ca 
Healthtech Consultants Report - www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publications/pdf/Health_review_HealthTech.pdf
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Media contacts
Emily Timmins
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 693-1292
EmilyTimmins@gov.nl.ca
Blair Medd
Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information
709-752-6111
blair.medd@nlchi.nl.ca
2017 10 04 10:55 a.m.