ONTARIO-The Ontario government is launching the procurement process for a new provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system.
Officials say the new system will integrate patient records, reduce paperwork for primary care providers and improve the quality and continuity of care for patients. This initiative is a part of Ontario’s $3.4 billion Primary Care Action Plan.
“Our government continues to deliver on our plan to connect every person in Ontario to a family doctor, nurse practitioner or primary care team by 2029,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Patients should never have to worry that important health information isn’t available when they need care. Once complete, the new provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system will securely connect patient information, reduce duplication and help health-care providers deliver faster, more connected and coordinated care.”
The Primary Care Medical Record system will allow doctors to securely create, access and manage digital patient information, including medical histories, diagnoses, medications and test results according to the province. While approximately 90 per cent of Ontario family physicians use electronic medical records, the government says the current landscape is fragmented and disconnected, limiting effective information sharing across the health system. This results in patients having to repeat unnecessary medical tests or repeat their health history as they move between different clinicians.
“Primary care clinicians need modern tools that allow them to spend more time with patients and less time managing paperwork,” said Dr. Jane Philpott, Chair of the Primary Care Action Team. “A provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system will help reduce administrative burden, improve access to information and support better care for patients across Ontario.”
The province says it is working closely with OntarioMD, an expert in electronic medical record certification and implementation of electronic medical records in the development and implementation of the Primary Care Medical Record system. Starting today, interested parties can respond to the Request for Bids through the Ontario Tenders Portal.
