May 28, 2006
New e-Tools for Canadian Mental Health
The Vancouver Island Health Authority (VIHA) in Canada will begin using technology to support mental health and addictions clinicians and patients in their treatment efforts. A $1.8 million investment from Canada Health Infoway's Innovation and Adoption program will assist VIHA in developing standardized electronic assessment forms and decision support tools specific to mental health and addictions needs.
Canada Health Infoway is a federally funded nonprofit corporation that spearheads e-health efforts in Canada. Currently, paper-based processes are being used to document clinical information and refer clients to community-based services, and the transfer of critical health information and treatment can take time-time that clients often cannot afford.
The initiative includes 3 elements:
* Ability to Access Care: Improved wait times and capacity to deliver needed services
* Patient Participation: Patient access to the electronic health record.
* Availability: Greater access to healthcare services in the home and community
EHR
Using the Electronic Health Record, Canadian patients will be able to capture their comprehensive and permanent health history and eventually link to their medical record in their physician's office or clinic. Under authorized conditions, important clinical events and test results can be shared, reminders for scheduled appointments and routine screening tests can be issued, and targeted patient education and management guidelines can be supplied. In this way, patients will be empowered to take a more active role in their health and only authorized healthcare providers will have access to confidential patient information. These tools will be particularly critical in the management of chronic disease for Canada's aging population and in disease prevention for everyone, translating to better health outcomes and a reduced burden on the health care system.
More about the The Electronic Health Record Solution
Posted by rsk at May 28, 2006 08:26 AM