First Nation health care organizations begin technological journey with Electronic Medical Records
Submitted by Vicky Hutchison
AUNDECK OMNI KANING—Giiwednong Health Link (GHL) is pleased to announce the continued implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) amongst three additional First Nation communities: M’Chigeeng First Nation, Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and Sagamok Anishnawbek.
The milestone EMR “Go Live” Promo events celebrated the successful partnership already established between Giiwednong Health Link, TELUS Health, and Health Canada. With EMRs previously implemented this spring at Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve and Serpent River First Nation, GHL has now coordinated the implementation of five EMR systems in the regional First Nation communities.
TELUS Health, Canada’s largest health IT company, is the developer of the newly implemented EMR solution called Practice Solutions Suite (PS Suite). PS Suite is a powerful and intuitive EMR that has been designed to optimize patient care, productivity, and administrative capability.
Conveying the importance of the PS Suite Implementation, Councillor Ray Corbiere spoke on behalf of Chief Debassige at the M’Chigeeng First Nation Go Live EMR event held on June 6, 2017.
“This system is a giant leap forward in enhancing health service delivery in improving our member’s health outcomes by utilizing real time digital health information,” stated Councillor Corbiere. “We will now have at our fingertips instant access to data that is crucial to the wellness of our people and that will allow us to provide improved health care throughout our programming.”
Other attendees, such as Doctor Bedard, were equally pleased with the new software.
“I do congratulate you very much on your EMR,” expressed Doctor Bedard. “I totally agree that this is an absolutely critical, crucial, necessary step to move on for the next generation of things.”
Atikameksheng Anishnawbek Director of Health & Wellness Director, Carmen Wabegijig Nootchtai, reiterated the modernization of PS Suite and its role in the delivery of health care.
“This will improve the referral system and allow for monitoring what referral is made, completed and how it is benefitting the client,” explained Wabegijig Nootchtai.
Carmen emphasized the advancement of healthcare.
“We live in a technological world; let us embrace our new EMR system as we move forward to a client centred care where patients come first,” added Wabegijig Nootchtai.
Chief Miller, management, and health staff celebrated this milestone on June 28.
The most recent EMR Go Live was celebrated on July 26, in Sagamok Anishnawbek.
Yolande Nashkawa, Health Program Manager of Sagamok Anishnawbek offered her comments and congratulated the health staff with reaching this milestone.
“The Community Electronic Medical Record will assist our department to electronically capture an individual’s milestones, plan of care, treatment, wellness plan, participation of programs and services offered by the Sagamok Community Wellness Department while maintaining files and records in accordance with the Personal Health Information and OCAP principles with regard to information privacy and security.”
At each EMR Go Live Promo Event, Giiwednong Health Link ensures these milestones are celebrated and recognized. After the completion of training, the communities’ health staff, Chief or Council, Telus Health Trainers and the Giiwednong Health Link project management office team assemble to mark “flipping the switch” of the Go Live progress.
Giiwednong Health Link’s First Nation partners are all 14 First Nations on Manitoulin Island and the North Shore region.
For more information, you may contact Michael McGregor, Digital Health Program Manager, by e-mail: michael@giiwednonghealth.ca or via telephone: (705) 920-2900.