Canada Health Infoway
Canada Health Infoway is an independent, federally funded, not-for-profit organization tasked with accelerating the development of electronic health records (EHR) across Canada. As a strategic investor, they work with Canadian provinces and territories with the goal of creating an electronic health record for 50% of Canadians by the end of 2010. Infoway’s members are Canada's 14 federal, provincial and territorial Deputy Ministers of Health. Infoway's investments are prioritized toward local, provincial and national projects which align with the Pan-Canadian EHR Blueprint, itself developed by Infoway. Beyond these strategic investments, Infoway has no mandate to enforce compliance, as Canadian healthcare is generally governed at the Provincial level.
Development of a network of effective interoperable electronic health record solutions across Canada – linking clinics, hospitals, pharmacies and other points of care – is intended to improve access to health care services for Canadians, enhance their quality of care and make the health care system more efficient.
Projects
Since 2001, Infoway has approved projects in the following targeted program areas:
- Diagnostic Imaging Systems
- Drug Information Systems
- Infostructure
- Innovation and Adoption
- Interoperable EHR
- Laboratory Information Systems
- Patient Access to Quality Care
- Public Health Surveillance
- Registries
- Telehealth
Goals
The goal of Canada Health Infoway is to contribute to the development of a network of EHR systems, in order to enable efficient communication between health care professionals and bringing a deeper understanding of patient needs. The results of the project may include shorter medical procedure wait times, safer prescriptions and better access to quality health care, and may dramatically improve health care for Canadians.
Infoway has also recently developed a pan-Canadian electronic health information standard, leveraging the existing HL7v3 standards.
It is reported that as of December 31, 2008 there were 276 EHR projects under way in Canadian hospitals, other health-care facilities, pharmacies and laboratories, with an investment value of $1.5-billion from Canada Health Infoway.[1]
Auditor General report
A 2009 report by the Auditor General of Canada found that Canada Health Infoway showed "due regard" for taxpayers' money in its financial management. Canada Health Infoway accepted all recommendations listed in the report.
See also
- Royal Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada
- European Institute for Health Records
- National Resource Center for Health Information Technology (USA)
- ISO TC 215
- RTSS
- Canadian EMR