Information System to Improve Patient Care
A new primary health-care information system will cut wait times and give Nova Scotians easier access to health care.
The system, which was introduced today, Nov. 20, by Health Minister Chris d'Entremont, will improve the way patient information is stored, used, and disclosed by Nova Scotia health-care providers.
"This system will improve the quality and safety of patient care and allow providers and patients to make safer, faster, and better treatment decisions," said Mr. d’Entremont. "We're allowing doctors to spend more time with their patients, and are providing Nova Scotians with health-care service as close to home as possible."
Through its Primary Health Care Information Management program, the Department of Health is working with district health authorities to implement the first provincewide electronic patient record system to improve quality of care and access to treatment for Nova Scotians.
Electronic patient records are software tools that allow health-care providers to easily look through their patients' medical histories. With this system, clinic charts will be stored electronically, instead of on paper. Electronic patient records minimize errors, efficiently generate referral letters, complete forms much quicker, and easily bill and code diagnoses.
With $4 million in funding from Health Canada's Primary Health Care Transition Fund, electronic patient records reinforces the government of Nova Scotia's commitment to innovation and technology.
Connecting primary health-care settings with hospital information systems allows care providers to access lab, diagnostic imaging, and other patient information quickly and accurately.
"This is great news for the patients and physicians in our district. It will certainly enhance patient care by giving physicians quicker access to information decision-making," said South Shore Health CEO Kevin McNamara.
The project is being implemented in clinics across the province by teams from district health authorities with support from Nightingale, Dymaxion and Concertia. To date, there are 521 users who are registered for the program and are preparing to implement the electronic patient record.
"It's a lot of work in the first months getting set up, but it's worth it," said Dr. David Martell, a physician at the Lunenburg Medical Centre. "With electronic records, I am able to get accurate details on my patients' health status; medication lists are accurate and legible. The automated-recall features allow me to proactively take care of my patients' health maintenance needs. I would never go back to paper records."
With this web-based electronic patient record, all patient health information is stored at the Department of Health's data centre, which is also used to store patient information for the majority of hospitals in Nova Scotia. Patient information is protected, and access is only given to providers who have a registered login and security code.