October 21, 2003
New electronic health record helps keep patients safe

Edmonton...Alberta has launched a new era of patient care with the implementation of the province's Electronic Health Record, the first of its kind in Canada.

The Alberta Electronic Health Record is a province-wide clinical health information system that links physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, home care and other providers across the province. The record stores pertinent patient information on-line so that health care providers may access a patient's prescription history, allergies and laboratory test results immediately on-line, via computer. The result is more accurate diagnosis and treatment for better, safer patient care.

"This is an excellent example of how made-in-Alberta solutions are changing the face of health care for all Canadians," said Premier Ralph Klein. "The work we have accomplished on electronic health records, and the partnerships we have established, form the model for other provinces to follow."

"Physicians and health care providers now have access to important patient information when and where they need it," said Gary Mar, Minister of Health and Wellness. "This innovative tool will assist Alberta's health care professionals in providing the best possible care for their patients."

"This new record allows physicians to quickly check for a patient's vital information to assist with diagnosis or avoid conflicting prescriptions. For example, even though a patient is delivered unconscious to an emergency room, doctors can use the record to quickly obtain life-saving information," said Dr. Brendan Bunting, president of the Alberta Medical Association.

The security and privacy of the health information in the Alberta Electronic Health Record follows the highest on-line security standards in the world. Health care providers using the electronic record undergo rigorous security clearance. The system monitors around the clock for attempted unauthorized activity.

The record is a collaboration among the Alberta government and health care stakeholders including physicians, pharmacists, regional health authorities, Alberta SuperNet, IBM Canada, and Canada Health Infoway.

In line with its mission to foster the development of compatible Electronic Health Record systems across Canada, Canada Health Infoway is investing in the implementation of the drug information component of Alberta's EHR. "I am proud that this made-in-Alberta solution will benefit from our investment support to ensure it can be replicated by other provinces and territories across Canada. This is a hallmark of how Infoway works - to invest in best of breed electronic healthcare solutions and accelerate their adoption in other jurisdictions across Canada," said Dr. Larry Ohlhauser, Member of the Infoway Board of Directors.

"For the past five years, IBM has worked closely with Alberta to deliver industry-leading electronic health record solutions to improve the quality of health care," said Robert Morine, Vice President Public Sector, IBM Canada Ltd. "We look forward to extending that relationship and continuing to improve the delivery of health care in Alberta through e-business solutions."

Alberta Health and Wellness spent $59 million to develop the Alberta Electronic Health Record, including its implementation up to spring 2004. It is expected all Alberta health regions, one-third of physicians' offices, and half of all pharmacies will be using electronic health records by spring 2004.

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Revised: This news release was amended on January 5, 2004.

For further information, contact:

Howard May
Communications
Alberta Health and Wellness
(780) 427-7164

Dial 310-0000 for toll free access outside Edmonton

Access is available on-line at http://www.health.gov.ab.ca

Backgrounder

Edmonton, October 21, 2003
Alberta Electronic Health Record

Overview

Alberta's Electronic Health Record is the first of its kind in Canada. It is expected to form the model for provincial health records nation wide.
Electronic health records were a key recommendation of the Premier's Advisory Council on Health, and later endorsed by the Kirby and Romanow health commissions.
Alberta's record offers physicians, pharmacists, and other health care providers information, via computer, on a patient's allergies, prescription history and laboratory test results.
This information will help avoid conflicting prescriptions, allergic reactions to medication, and could result in better and faster diagnosis of patients.
The initiative is a collaboration between the Alberta government and health care stakeholders including physicians, pharmacists, regional health authorities, Alberta SuperNet, IBM Canada, and Canada Health Infoway.

Security

Only authenticated health care providers have access to Alberta's record. Patient information is accessed on a need-to-know basis only.
Each user must pass a two-level authentication process for accessing the system:

Each user is assigned a unique identification number and an electronic tag with a constantly changing digital number.
To access the system the user must enter the identification number along with the current digital number on the tag.

Each user's unique identification number determines the level of access to information. For example: A pharmacist's identification number allows access to pharmaceutical information only. All other patient information is blocked.
Alberta's Health Information Act protects patient privacy. Each user receives training about their responsibility to protect the privacy and security of patient information as required by the Act.

Technology

Health care providers can access the record through an Internet browser with a high-speed connection.
Alberta SuperNet is working to install high-speed Internet connection in rural areas across the province to improve access to the record for rural physicians. Alberta SuperNet is an initiative of the Government of Alberta with partners Bell West and Axia SuperNet Limited.
Physicians implementing the Alberta Electronic Health Record in their practice have access to financial assistance and other resources through the Physician Office System Program, a joint initiative between the Alberta Medical Association and Alberta Health and Wellness.

History

In 1997, Alberta Health and Wellness formed a special branch called Alberta Wellnet to develop a province-wide electronic health record.
In 1998, Wellnet partnered with IBM to build a blueprint for the Alberta record. Alberta SuperNet joined the initiative to install the Internet services required to support this new system.
In 1999, Wellnet launched the Pharmaceutical Information Network (PIN) that allowed pharmacies and physicians to share information electronically about a patient's prescription history. PIN was successfully piloted in Westlock and Leduc and paved the way for the pharmaceutical component of the Alberta Electronic Health Record.
In 2002, the Premier's Advisory Council on Health recommended implementing a province-wide health record.

For further information, contact:

Howard May
Communications
Alberta Health and Wellness
(780) 427-7164

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