4°c Partly cloudy
14°c Mainly cloudy
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Manitoba pushes clinics to switch to electronic records
THE Manitoba government wants more doctors to ditch paper patient files for secure electronic medical records.
Health Minister Theresa Oswald said Tuesday the province will spend $16 million over the next few years to get doctors working in small community clinics linked into the province's expanding electronic medical records system.
The money will be used to pay up to 70 per cent of implementation costs to help doctors' offices switch over from paper to electronic records and pay operating costs up to a maximum of $20,000 for the first two years.
The incentive is being offered through the $30-million federal Canada Health Infoway, a national program to accelerate the development of electronic health record projects in Canada.
"The ultimate goal is a more connected Manitoba," she said. "We look forward to many doctors coming on board now.
Oswald made the announcement at the annual eHealth Conference for provincial health-care providers.
She said about 26 per cent of doctors in the province have already adopted electronic records. The funding will also help them upgrade their systems.
Oswald said the province would be happy if 70 per cent of the province's roughly 1,300 family or community physicians bought into electronic records.
She said a small number of physicians are not convinced switching over to electronic records is good for their practice; however, she added many graduating doctors expect patient records to be available at the click of a mouse. Records include lab results, X-rays, prescriptions and medications and appoint scheduling.
The goal of electronic records is to reduce duplication -- patients having to undergo unneeded tests or exams when a paper record goes astray -- and to improve physician access to patient records.
Roger Girard of Manitoba eHealth, said a wider use of electronic records will reduce confusion among patients and the system -- for example, when doctors refers patients to a specialist but their paper files don't follow them.
"In order for those dots to be connected they have to be automated," Girard said.
Manitoba eHealth is the government department responsible for implementing electronic records not only for doctors, but for hospitals and labs and pharmacies.
"It has to the kind of access that has to be secure," Oswald said.
Full implementation is expected to take several years.
bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition October 27, 2010 A6
More Local
- Back to Top
- Return to Local
Poll
Proudly brought to you by:
Most Popular Local
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Man hit before fatal blow, friend testifies
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Police cadets to deal with drunks
- Thieves strip $20K worth of copper wiring from gravel pit
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- Union Station to receive $6.5-million makeover
- Kelvin project lesson in sacrifice
- Gang members get lengthy sentences for jailhouse beating
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Severe storm warning issued
- A SHED is not enough
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Football star's fatal punch probed at manslaughter trail
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Cyclist killed in Higgins Avenue crash
- Sex-scandal inquiry to be heard in city
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Boozy night out, lying cost city man big bucks
- Neighbours shaken by two deaths
- Teen hit by vehicle on Pembina
- Rapid buses rattling homes
- Severe storm warning issued
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Cyclist killed in collision on Higgins identified
- Dr. Seuss banned from B.C. classroom
- Triple whammy hits homes
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- His life made our world a better place
- Band, council defy feds on aid
- Cyclist killed on Higgins Avenue was passionate mentor, volunteer
- Cummings steps out of reunion for sick mom
- Katz ponders sanity of new rules
- Pukatawagan RCMP looking for two dangerous suspects
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Kelvin project lesson in sacrifice
- Hydro headquarters named Canada's greenest office tower
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- Winnipeg man recovering after campground bear attack
- Weeding out the chemicals
- He was enjoying view, bear came out of blue
- Diplomat saved thousands from Hitler
- U of W rejects copyright deal as 'money grab'
- Chemicals not par for the course
- Bear pulls camper from outhouse, before being shot
- Has Gimli gone to pot?
- Pooch paradise, where champion beagles run free
- His life made our world a better place
- Scientists lash Harper government for pulling plug on Experimental Lakes Area
- RRC's old gem a beauty
- Attack on hockey ref nets jail time
- Osborne Village voted Canada's best neighbourhood
- Our Village is as good as it gets
- Judge faces second complaint
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010; View the changes. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.