Health minister not concerned about delays to electronic medical records launch
Michelle Thompson says it's important to get things right
Health Minister Michelle Thompson says she doesn't love that there are more delays with the launch of Nova Scotia's new electronic medical records system, but she says it's important to get things right.
Officials with Nova Scotia Health recently announced the $365-million system will now begin rolling out at the IWK Health Centre in December, as opposed to this summer. Rollouts at subsequent health-care sites would follow.
Thompson told reporters on Thursday that the delay is only with the start date, and that the development of the clinical information system, also known as One Person One Record, remains on track.
"It's going to be a very important tool for us and it's going to make a big difference and, you know, we only get one shot to do it first and I want it to be as smooth as possible and this is the path," she said.
After the system launches, the work done to prepare will be applicable for the other rollout stages and so the minister said people should not be worried about further delays beyond that.
What the program will do
When it launches, the system will allow health-care professionals anywhere in the province to see what's happening in real time with a patient who's entered the acute-care system.
The program, which is being designed by Oracle Cerner Canada, a division of U.S.-based tech giant Oracle Corp., will replace dozens of systems health-care professionals use now to view patient records, many of which are unable to communicate with one another.
It's also important to ensure there's capacity in place to support the people using the system, said the minister.
She recalled touring a hospital in Vancouver where a similar system had been recently introduced at the site's intensive care unit.
"I thought it would be pandemonium when I went in there, to be honest, and it was so calm, people were so happy because of the preparatory work that was done," she said.
Despite the delays, Thompson said there would be no change in the cost of the system.
Opposition reaction
New Democrat MLA Susan Leblanc said it's been a long wait for the system to be ready and it's disappointing there are further delays.
Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said a lot of money is going into the initiative and he's taking a wait-and-see approach on things.
MORE TOP STORIES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
