Single, unified digital health records getting closer for area hospitals
On Dec. 3, seven partner hospital organizations, representing 14 hospitals in Central East Ontario, will introduce Epic – a new, digital clinical information system (CIS) that will provide a single, unified personal health record for each patient.
The new Epic CIS will go live at Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Haliburton Highlands Health Services, Lakeridge Health, Northumberland Hills Hospital, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Ross Memorial Hospital, and Scarborough Health Network. This collaboration represents the largest number of individual organizations joining together on Epic in Ontario and will transform the way health care is delivered for generations to come.
“Epic is a gamechanger for Central East Ontario,” said Dr. Ilan Lenga, Chief Information Officer and Chief Medical Information Officer at Lakeridge Health, who is also leading the regional Epic team. “It will vastly improve the way we deliver care across Central East Ontario for generations to come.”
“The launch of Epic is the largest clinical transformational project in Ross Memorial’s history,” said Kelly Isfan, president and CEO, Ross Memorial Hospital. “It will streamline the ability for our patients and health professionals to communicate with one another, allowing for even more precise decisions about each individual’s treatment and care. Epic is going to transform the way health care is delivered in our Kawartha Lakes community and the entire region.”
Epic will provide health-care teams with the tools they need to better collaborate across the region and enable them to make the best possible decisions about an individual’s care and treatment. In addition, there will be increased access to real-time information that will help to improve patient outcomes, and access to standardized tools and processes that will reduce duplication, streamline processes, and improve results.
The launch of Epic will also include a new MyChart Central East Ontario patient portal that is integrated with the Epic system. This free, secure, online portal will allow patients to access their medical records and personal health information. Patients can register for the new MyChart patient portal beginning Dec. 3 by visiting mychart.ourepic.ca.
“As our teams transition to this faster, safer, and better way to deliver care, patients and families may initially notice longer than usual wait times and some processes that are done differently,” explains Dr. Lenga. “We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding as our teams make this important change to serve them better.”
Epic is one of the world’s largest electronic health records software companies. Their best-in-class clinical information system has been adopted by hundreds of leading hospitals in North America and Europe, including the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, The Ottawa Hospital, SickKids, and others.
