Home / Health / Manitoba Hospitals Go Digital: Patient Records Follow You
Manitoba Hospitals Go Digital: Patient Records Follow You
15 Jun
Summary
- Manitoba hospitals will build electronic records by next spring.
- This system allows patient history to follow them between facilities.
- The province has spent $160 million on this electronic record project.
By March 31, 2027, every Manitoba hospital is scheduled to implement electronic patient records, allowing a patient's comprehensive care history to seamlessly transfer between facilities. This initiative aims to enhance patient safety and streamline healthcare delivery, reducing the time providers spend searching for information. Dr. Iraj Ghanbari, site medical lead at Lakeshore General Hospital, noted the system's rapid consult capabilities, eliminating delays associated with traditional paper or faxed records.
The province has invested approximately $160 million in this ambitious project. The rollout will gradually include all hospitals, with Ashern's emergency department already utilizing the system for new patients since March. While initial records focus on current visits, future data will build upon this foundation, accessible via a patient's personal health identification number. Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara acknowledged the transition as an overdue improvement.
Currently, the digital tool is active in select Winnipeg hospitals, Ashern, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, and Neepawa, with Health Sciences Centre to join in August. Doctors Manitoba supports the move but will monitor the implementation to ensure it truly saves time and simplifies processes. Although some aspects, like faxing prescriptions, still rely on paper, the ultimate goal is a fully electronic charting system within the next few years.
