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WINTER 2006 |
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Online
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I N F O R M A T I O N T E C H
N O L O G Y
Interoperable
electronic health records and laboratory information system
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Stock Photo |
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The iEHR/Labs Project will bring together information
from the other EHR projects to enable sharing of personal health
information and other health data with health professionals and health
care providers across the continuum of care.
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By NLCHI Staff |
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In mid-January 2006, the
Newfoundland and
Labrador Centre for Health Information received approval from
Canada Health Infoway, the national organization established to
accelerate the implementation of a pan-Canadian EHR, to proceed with
the scoping and planning requirements for the Interoperable
Electronic Health Records and Laboratory Information System Project
(iEHR/Labs). The iEHR/Labs Project will bring together information
from the other EHR projects to enable sharing of personal health
information and other health data with health professionals and
health care providers across the continuum of care. The iEHR/Labs
project will address the increasing need to use integrated and
secure health information and communication technologies more
effectively to improve primary healthcare services, improve patient
safety, and enable evidence-based decision making and on-going
accountability.
The first phase of the project focused on the identification of benefits
of the iEHR, an overall conceptual solution for how to implement it, and
the high-level costs associated with the implementation. A detailed
proposal will be submitted to Infoway in the spring with a request for
funding. If funding is approved, the Government of Newfoundland and
Labrador will be asked for approval before implementation begins.
Newfoundland and Labrador electronic health record
Great strides have been made in identifying the architecture, supporting
technology, and business processes required to implement a robust EHR
system for Newfoundland and Labrador. With respect to the Laboratory
Information System, standards work is progressing well in conjunction
with the initiatives that are underway with the national and provincial
standards committees.
Several information systems will come together under the Newfoundland
and Labrador EHR, such as Diagnostic Imaging/Picture Archiving and
Communications System (DIPACS), the Pharmacy Network, Telehealth
initiatives, Provider Registry, Unique Personal Identifier/Client
Registry, and a provincial Laboratory Information System. Several other
existing health care information systems, such as the Client and
Referral Management System, Meditech, and Opus Varian (cancer registry)
will be integrated into the Newfoundland and Labrador EHR as the system
expands to meet the growing needs. Together, these information systems
will enhance provincial health care.
The project team has begun a series of information sessions about the
iEHR/Labs initiative with the Regional Health Authorities and will
extend these sessions to physicians and other health professionals and
health care providers in early 2007. The primary purpose of these
sessions is to share the vision of the Newfoundland and Labrador EHR and
how it will support physicians and others in their decision making.
Province-wide consultation sessions are planned, and will include an
overview of how the system will work and the impact on current
practices.
For an update on other Health Information Network projects, please
see
the Centre’s latest
Fast Facts.
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