e-Health in the HNHB LHIN
e-Health is about using information technology to build better relationships between you and your health care team.
e-Health will enable access to the best available information so that everyone benefits.
- People are able to make decisions about their health and wellness.
- Providers have the right information at the right time.
- The health system is managed safely, effectively and efficiently.
A Strategic Plan
The HNHB LHIN released its eHealth Strategic Plan in October 2006. This Plan outlined how the LHIN would deliver a comprehensive, patient-focused and secure electronic system that would improve the way patients receive care. As importantly, it proposed principles to guide business planning and grow eHealth.
- Build on existing and scalable solutions
- Seize opportunities and align with current or planned initiatives and resources
- Choose solutions that promote ease of integrations and operation with other systems
- Equip stakeholders with a minimum level of computerization to enable their participation
- All providers who stand to benefit and improve patient care should share implementation and sustainability costs
Growing eHealth - Making Progress
CCAC common case management tool (CHRIS)
Client-centred web-based system that supports client intake and referral, assessment and tracking, service monitoring and client data management. HNHB CCAC went live, March 2008.
RL Solutions Risk Management
Provides hospitals and the CCAC with the ability to manage incidents, i.e. any actual or alleged event or situation that creates a significant risk of substantial or serious harm to the physical or mental health, safety or well-being of an individual, through the entire life cycle of that event – from occurrence to resolution. Implemented at all LHIN hospitals and the HNHB CCAC.
Interim Right Level of Care Information System (RLCIS)
Local information system that facilitates hospital acquisition and reporting of data elements necessary to meet provincial and LHIN ER/ALC reporting requirements in an efficient manner. Launched November 2009.
Regional Diagnostic Imaging repository – DI-r
Provide hospital-based clinicians and other health care providers access to patient images and diagnostic imaging reports acquired from any participating hospital in the HNHB and WW LHIN. 100% participation June 2010
Patient Centric Transformation Initiative (PCTI)
Build tools to profile patient’s journey in the health system across multiple sectors. Findings will inform quality improvements for transitions, reducing unnecessary and/or duplicate use of services and resources, and avoidable ED visits. Project is being rescoped to integrate other data elements e.g. physician billing information. Business case is being prepared for the ministry.
Integrated Decision Support Strategy (IDS)
A LHIN-wide business intelligence system that supports system-wide planning and performance reporting. Data (from all hospitals and the CCAC) and reporting features facilitate timely, evidence-based decision-making for administrative, planning and operational requirements. Launched November 2009. Hosted by Hamilton Health Sciences.
Integrated cancer ehealth strategy
Integrated ehealth strategy for the Juravinski (Hamilton) and Walker Family (St. Catharines) Cancer Centres. Includes connectivity for community hospital cancer clinics. Implementation underway. Walker Family Cancer Centre expected to open 2012-2013.
Provider Patient Reminders in Ontario Multi-Strategy Prevention Tools (P-Prompt)
Boosts screening rates in Ontario for mammograms, pap testing, influenza vaccination and childhood primary vaccinations for physicians’ patients. LHIN Project Management Office is funding some rural physicians to sign-up. Hamilton Family Health Team (FHT) and 12 rural physicians’ offices are participating.
Drug profile viewer
Enables access to prescription drug claim histories of Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients by health care providers in some hospital emergency departments. St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and Niagara Health System are part of Wave 1 implementation.
Common clinical viewer – ClinicalConnect
The portal enables timely provider access to patient and client information, across hospitals, other health care organizations, physicians and providers. ClinicalConnect closes information gaps, and reduces phone calls, repeat diagnostic tests, and medical errors, and improves patient outcomes and safety. Enhancements underway: a single, sign-on web-based interface has been created to download to physician office medical record systems, CCAC data, and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton. Mobile Access via Blackberry, iPhone and Windows Mobile Is under development. Next data sets for inclusion include information from other HNHB LHIN hospitals and oncology data from the Juravinski Cancer Centre.e-Health is an important technology that links residents, providers and decision makers to the right data and information for the right care and quality improvement.
For further details on ClinicalConnect:
Resources
Further Contacts
In 2007, the HNHB LHIN created a local e-Health Operational Plan to guide planning and investments in e-Health. The HNHB LHIN e-Health Project Management Office (PMO) coordinates the range of projects for health system improvement consistent with the Operational Plan. For further information on e-Health initiatives in our LHIN, please contact the HNHB LHIN e-Health Project Management Office:
Dale Anderson
Senior Consultant, Stakeholder Engagement
905-633-3899 ext. 2952