“The digital exchange of health information (often called electronic health records or EHRs) is essential to transforming Canada’s health-care system. Unfortunately, it appears that governments may be quietly re-examining their commitment to creating EHRs as they look for ways to reduce public spending in the wake of large, recession-fuelled deficits. Our advice is that we must continue to move forward.
Jurisdictions that have created EHRs know that the benefits are not hypothetical. Better information exchange between providers is reducing medication errors, improving patient referrals and follow-ups, and empowering patients to be more involved in their own care. These are areas where Ontario woefully underperforms today. With the help of EHRs, we can improve Ontario’s health system performance.”
Article
Toronto Star, 26 November 2009
