Supporting the standardization and technological advancement of a Nunavut Electronic Health Record System, Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health and Social Services and Richard Alvarez, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) today jointly announced a $7.4 million investment by Infoway towards Phase 2 of the department’s E-health program. The investment is part of an overall $11.6 million initiative to support Nunavut’s E-Health vision and faster access to quality care for the territory’s residents.

An electronic health record (EHR) is a secure and private lifetime record of a patient’s health and care history. Implementation and adoption of EHRs for Nunavut’s residents is a complex project that will be supported by collaboration between the territory and Infoway. By 2012, Nunavut’s health care system will benefit from quick access to the comprehensive electronic health records of their patients saving time, increasing efficiencies, and increasing patient safety.

“We constantly evaluate the changing environment of our health care system, and with Canada Health Infoway’s generous investment we are able to move forward in implementing a patient file system that can be more easily maintained and simpler to use,” said Aglukkaq. “The electronic health record system aims to use technology and the Internet to improve the way health care is delivered by linking our health centres, hospital, and pharmacy to each other and to our southern partners.”

Nunavut has been working in collaboration with Infoway since 2004. Infoway is the federally-funded not-for-profit organization that is leading the development and adoption of electronic health records across Canada.

“Providing all Canadian residents with an electronic health record is a tremendous accomplishment, particularly in remote areas like Nunavut,” said Alvarez. “Today’s investment means that by 2012, health care providers will have access to the vital health data of their patients at the click of a button. Not only will it increase patient safety throughout Nunavut, it will free up valuable clinical time, increasing access to patient care and saving money.”

Every province and territory is currently working to develop, implement and adopt electronic health records for faster transfer of patient information, resulting in reduced wait times. The investment in Nunavut’s electronic record project will help the territory meet its wait time guarantee for diagnostic imaging by reducing turnaround time to less than four days from what used to be 18 days per patient.

Nunavut’s electronic health record project is a five-year initiative from creation to implementation. It is operating within budget and supported through existing funding envelopes. The total cost of the project is $11.6 million. Four million dollars is designated through Health Canada Wait Time Fund, and the remainder through Infoway’s investment, which is 75 per cent of the total project cost.

“Electronic health records are a key building block in establishing a health care system that provides improved access, quality and productivity, throughout Nunavut and connects us to the rest of Canada,” said Aglukkaq. “By 2012 the electronic health record system will be integrated and available in all communities.”

About Canada Health Infoway

Canada Health Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the Federal government. Infoway jointly invests in projects with every province and territory to accelerate the development and adoption of electronic health record systems in Canada. Fully respecting patient confidentiality, this network of systems will provide clinicians and patients with a faster way to manage, access, share and safeguard patient health information. Accessing this vital information quickly will foster a more modern and sustainable health care system for all Canadians.