The HHS CREATE team is playing a pivotal role in an ambitious plan, called the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap, that would allow providers, hospitals and institutions across Canada to instantly access each other’s electronic patient medical records. Dr. Jeremy Petch and Dr. Ted Scott are leaders in this work.
Think back to the iconic scenes from Star Trek, where Captain James T. Kirk and his crew effortlessly communicated with extraterrestrial beings thanks to a universal translator. Imagine a similar scenario within Canada’s healthcare system, where providers can instantly access complete patient records regardless of the location or facility. That’s the ambitious vision driving Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) CREATE (Centre for Data Science and Digital Health).
CREATE is at the forefront of developing this kind of universal translator for healthcare, streamlining the sharing of electronic medical records (EMRs) across a diverse array of providers, from family doctors to hospitals and long-term care facilities. This innovation promises faster, more accurate, and safer care for patients by eliminating time-consuming, outdated practices like fax machines and fragmented data systems.
“The longer-term vision is an enormous undertaking because of the scope, but the work happening now is providing valuable first steps towards what the future could look like.” — Dr. Jeremy Petch, HHS CREATE director
The Current Challenge: Incompatibility in EMRs
Today, Canada’s healthcare providers utilize a variety of EMR systems, often proprietary and incompatible with one another. When a patient needs immediate care outside their primary provider’s network or even nearby, the likelihood of delays and errors increases significantly due to the manual transfer of health information.
For instance, if a Hamilton resident requires urgent care in British Columbia or Niagara, current systems prevent emergency department doctors from accessing the patient’s comprehensive medical history, including crucial details like chronic conditions, medications, allergies, and vaccinations.
Creating a Roadmap for Instant Data Access
Addressing this challenge is the Shared Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap. Funded by both federal and provincial governments through Canada Health Infoway, this project aims to make healthcare more digital and connected, ensuring instant access to patient records across Canada.
“Through our team’s contract with Infoway, we’re helping to establish an environment where information can confidentially flow between existing, differing electronic medical records across Canada.” — Dr. Ted Scott, HHS vice president of innovation and partnerships
Dr. Jeremy Petch, director of CREATE, explains that their role involves developing new ideas and digital solutions to improve how healthcare is delivered. CREATE collaborates with HHS teams as well as organizations in both public and private sectors to develop the framework and specifications necessary for web applications to integrate with various EMR systems and share data.
Key Technology: FHIR
A critical component of this project is Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR), a standardized approach to accessing healthcare information instantly across different computer systems. CREATE has profound expertise in FHIR, essential for the successful implementation of interoperability in Canada’s healthcare system.
Petch notes that CREATE is working with Infoway, Ontario, and British Columbia to build one of the first components of the roadmap, demonstrating how it would function in practice. The team focuses on creating an environment where patient information can be shared securely and efficiently.
Innovation Through Collaboration: Connectathon
One of the highlights of the team’s efforts is their participation in the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) North America Connectathon Week, set to take place in Toronto from February 3 to 7. This event, the first of its kind in Canada, brings together hundreds of health IT professionals from around the world to collaborate, innovate, and advance healthcare interoperability.
Dr. Ted Scott emphasizes that CREATE’s involvement underscores their reputation as global leaders in interoperability and artificial intelligence. At the Connectathon, the team will answer questions, present on AI’s role in interoperability, and showcase the progress made towards achieving the roadmap’s vision.
Conclusion: Envisioning a Digitized Future
The work of the HHS CREATE team is foundational in transforming Canada’s healthcare system. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and fostering collaboration across the healthcare sector, they are paving the way for a seamless, efficient, and patient-centered medical landscape where timely access to vital information can be a reality.
As Dr. Petch and Dr. Scott continue to lead this ambitious initiative, they remind us of the significant impact that innovative technology can have on healthcare, promising a future where patient care is faster, more accurate, and more secure.
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