Photo: Pembroke Regional Hospital
Pembroke Regional Hospital is introducing a new electronic medical record system, as the hospital aims to go paperless. In a statement, PRH President and CEO Sabine Mersmann says the hospital has identified Digital Transformation as a key strategic initiative. Some of the work done to date includes transition from paper-based to digital physician reports which can be electronically transferred in a timely manner to family doctors. Although PRH does not currently offer a service like MyChart, the work the hospital is doing will lead up to the launch of a new electronic medical record system will help lay the groundwork for offering a service of like that in the future.
In the meantime, patients who would like a copy of their medical information can easily request this through our Release of Information Office. Most requests are filled and ready for pickup within five business days or less (inpatients receive their requested information before they go home) and the service is free of charge unless the file is over 100 pages or the information needed to be couriered. Personal health information cannot be emailed as the system is not encrypted.
Pembroke Regional Hospital also submits inpatient reports, surgical reports, diagnostic imaging and emergency department patient documentation to a provincial electronic medical record called Connecting Ontario and Ontario MD.
The Connecting Ontario Clinical Viewer is a secure, web-based portal that provides care providers all over Ontario, real-time 24/7 access to digital health records including; dispensed medications, laboratory results, hospital visits, Home and Community Care Services, mental health care information, diagnostic imaging reports and images. This provides a comprehensive view of a patient’s health journey regardless of where in the province the information was obtained and enables health care providers to make faster, more informed care decisions.
“As a hospital, we recognize the benefits of digital evolution and we are committed to the work it’s going to take to move us forward. In the end, every investment we make will result in more timely access and better care for those in our region,” Mrs. Mersmann said.
(Written by: Kyle Robinson)
