Dear Colleagues,

Today is a long-awaited day for many of us. The province has selected an electronic medical record (EMR) solution for a province-wide implementation (see announcement below).

I am confident the decision made was guided by the input many of you have provided leading up to this day. I am also impressed with this project’s leadership, including our colleague, Dr. Kristy Newson, who is co-leading this project alongside Kim Knox.
We know implementing an EMR is not only about providing a new tool for doctors; it is about fundamentally shifting how we provide care, how our patients access their information and how we collaborate with our colleagues.

As has been proven in many other jurisdictions across the country, electronic medical records enhance the quality of care and patient and system outcomes. It helps refine the scheduling process and improve communication and interactions between practitioners, primary care providers, and patients.

Many clinicians have been involved in this work, and MSPEI is proud to partner on this project. MSPEI endorses this decision. We believe it will have a lasting, positive impact on the future of health care on PEI.

I would be remiss if I didn’t thank Dr. Newson for stepping into a leadership role for the EMR Program. In addition to her clinical role as a family physician, she has invested a great deal of time and energy to help us reach this point. She will continue to be there to support us as we move forward with implementation.

If you are a community-based physician, I hope you will consider signing on to adopt an EMR. Learn more below.


Sincerely,

Trina Stewart, MD, CCFP, FCFP
President
MSPEI
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS MEMO
MEMO: Province selects Telus Health as EMR provider
From: Mark Spidel, Deputy Minister, Department of Health and Wellness
February 19, 2021

Prince Edward Island is one step closer to implementing a provincewide electronic medical record solution. The province has selected TELUS Health as its electronic medical record provider. The EMR solution will be offered to community-based physicians and nurse practitioners.

In the next few weeks, clinicians will be invited to a webinar to learn more about the EMR program and solution and to put forward their expression of interest to adopt the provincial EMR solution.

The EMR solution will help modernize how clinicians manage their practices and how we collect, share and use patient information. It is part of a broader digital transformation of patient care across PEI.

Having spent the last decade building the digital backbone to allow for more efficient communication within the health-care ecosystem, TELUS Health is committed to supporting PEI physicians and the entire care team in implementing EMRs across the province.

TELUS Health’s national reputation and extensive experience in health innovation combined with a solution offering extensive functionality that is adaptable to different practice styles and ability to integrate with other provincial systems were key factors that led to the selection. 

To support the provincewide implementation and long-term sustainability, the Government is introducing an EMR Program. This program will oversee the contract with Telus Health and manage the solution roll-out, including supporting clinicians in preparing their clinics for adoption, implementation, training, provincial data collection and the future EMR state for the province. The program will also serve as the liaison between clinicians and Telus to ensure it is meeting our expectations and evolving to our changing needs over time.

The program is co-led by a physician, Dr. Kristy Newson, and Kim Knox. The Medical Society of PEI and physician representatives will continue to be formally involved in the program’s governance structure. A new Clinical Advisory Group will also support the program.

Supporting physicians through EMR adoption 

We understand no matter your experience, interest or readiness to adopt an EMR, it is an important decision and may come with a steep learning curve.

The EMR Program will be working alongside Telus to develop a series of its own services to support clinicians through this transformation. While we cannot eliminate short-term disruption to your practice, we can be sensitive to it, and we want to build in as much support as possible and feasible. This support will include training, funding and peer support. In addition to a team of trainers, we will have a team of clinicians acting as our advisors to help identify ways to support you. As this support model is developed, more information will be shared.

On behalf of the Department of Health and Wellness and the Medical Society of Prince Edward Island, we are pleased to introduce a provincewide EMR solution into clinicians’ offices.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Kristy Newson by email at kanewson@ihis.org.

Sincerely,

Mark Spidel
Deputy Minister
Department of Health and Wellness
EMR Webinar: The Solution and Getting Started
We recognize you will have questions about both this solution and how you can get started. In the coming weeks, you will be invited to a webinar to help you make an informed decision about adopting an EMR into your practice.

During the webinar you will learn:

  • An overview of the EMR solution functions (note this will be high level and there will be a future opportunity for a full demonstration of the solution) 
  • What to expect during implementation
  • How you will be supported (including funding)
  • How to put forward an expression of interest to get started
  • Next Steps and Timelines

More details coming soon!
BENEFITS OF ADOPTING AN EMR
The shift from paper to digital provides many benefits to the provider, the patient and the health-care system. More than 85% of Canada’s physicians now use an electronic medical record system. It is the modern standard of how we provide care. It is also a key factor in helping to recruit early-career physicians to our province. 

It supports transforming patient care delivery by:

  • enabling care providers to work together and securely share patient information
  • equipping system planners with data and evidence to create policy and make investments where Islanders need it most; and 
  • empowering and equipping patients with information and confidence to take a more active role in managing their own health.

It helps you as a clinician:

  • Make more informed clinical decisions.
  • 96% of physicians reporting in Alberta stated that access to a summarized patient record improved continuity of care.

  • Better manage and prevent chronic disease. 
  • An Alberta study said that 88% of physicians saw improvements in managing chronic diseases with EMR use.

  • Improve patient safety, including reduced errors.
  • A study in Ontario had 63% of physicians indicate patient safety improved within the first year of EMR adoption. 

  • Reduce the duplication of tests
  • 97% of physicians in Alberta indicated that tests and investigations are no longer needlessly repeated.