VICTORIA - The next step in improving patient care using electronic medical records (EMRs) is now complete. In a joint initiative between the provincial government and the BCMA, six suppliers have been selected to provide electronic medical records technology over the next five years to physicians across the province. Pilot projects will begin in physicians' offices as early as September, with a full roll-out to a majority of physicians' offices slated for 2008.

"We are meeting our throne speech commitment to create and launch a new electronic medical records system to give physicians better access to patient records and improve patient care," said Health Minister George Abbott. "Physicians will be able to choose one of six ways to set up electronic medical records to serve patients anywhere in B.C."

Physicians using electronic medical records will be able to:
* Reduce paperwork and process lab results and referrals in their offices faster to improve patient services;
* Instantly access latest clinical information and tools to help patients manage chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis;
* Develop preventive care practices by analyzing local community needs;
* Increase security of patient records; and
* Integrate other eHealth tools like electronic prescribing and ordering of diagnostic tests.

"Although we live in an electronic world, physician's offices have not kept pace. However with the implementation of EMRs, the health care our patients receive will be better co-ordinated, better managed, and more efficient," said Dr. Geoff Appleton, president of the BC Medical Association. "Patient records will be more accessible to health-care providers that need the information to deliver effective patient care, and they will be much more secure than is the current practice of storing thousands of paper files."

Included in last year's agreement between the provincial government and the BC Medical Association was the Physician Information Technology Office (PITO) in which government committed approximately $108 million to assist physicians in implementing electronic medical records in their practices. A clinical advisory group of physicians, the six Health Authorities and the College of Physicians and Surgeons are also participating to ensure the electronic medical records systems meet physicians' needs.

Electronic medical records are one of B.C.'s seven eHealth projects. The other six are:

* The interoperable Electronic Health Record (iEHR) - infrastructure to enable secure and authorized access to health records from anywhere in the province;
* The Provincial Laboratory Information Solution Project (PLIS) - consolidated lab results;
* The eDrug Project (eDrug) - enhancing PharmaNet;
* The Provincial Diagnostic Imaging Project (Connecting DI) - sharing patient diagnostic text reports and images;
* The Public Health Information Project (PHIP) - public health information management; and
* Telehealth - services over distance, in rural and remote areas and for First Nations.

All patient information will be protected by privacy measures that are among the strongest in Canada. The personal health information in the electronic medical record will comply with the Province's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Personal Information Privacy Act and clauses of the Canada Health Act that govern the use of information for health-related purposes. In addition, access to patient information will be restricted only to staff in each physician's practice that have a legal right and clear need to access the information.

"EMRs can help physicians access patient information securely and quickly anywhere in B.C.," said Abbott. "eHealth will provide faster, safer, better health care, help patients manage their own care better, and give health professionals the correct and necessary information required to make appropriate and timely clinical decisions."

The successful proponents now enter a 30-day period to finalize their contracts with the ministry.