What is Ontario planning for its primary care system?

Ontario is planning to create a provincewide electronic medical record system for primary care.

What were the previous issues with Ontario's electronic health records?

Previous electronic health record initiatives in Ontario faced significant criticism, with the eHealth agency reportedly spending $1 billion with little to show for it, and later reports indicating $8 billion spent on various initiatives without comprehensive results.

What are the concerns regarding Ontario's new health record system?

Opposition critics have raised concerns about the security of patient data and privacy, especially following a recent privacy breach involving home care patients' data.

Home / Health / Ontario's New Digital Health Record System Launched

Ontario's New Digital Health Record System Launched

20 Mar

•

Summary

Ontario plans a provincewide electronic medical record system for primary care.
Previous eHealth initiatives cost billions with little to show.
Patient data security and privacy are key concerns for opposition.

Ontario is initiating a new provincewide electronic medical record system for primary care, aiming to overcome challenges faced by previous health IT projects. Health Minister Sylvia Jones confirmed the province is consulting potential vendors to explore system capabilities and integration.

This initiative seeks to unify fragmented electronic records currently used by most primary care providers. The goal is to enable seamless sharing of patient information, including medical history, allergies, medications, and test results, across hospitals, labs, and physicians' offices. Dr. Jane Philpott emphasized the benefits for patient safety and care continuity, noting that missing information can lead to risks and unnecessary repeat tests.