The Digital Health Record (DHR) initiative has launched in the Northern Island of Montreal and the Mauricie-Centre-du-Québec regions after a six-month delay. This project aims to digitize medical data across Quebec and eventually eliminate the use of faxes, pens, and paper in hospitals. A pilot program called the Digital Health Record Showcase will assess its success before a broader rollout across the province.
A total of 3,200 state employees have been drafted to support health network personnel during this launch. The government has partnered with American firm Epic Systems to consolidate patient information into a single digital file. This file will include health history, professional notes, exam results, medication records, prescriptions, appointments, and visit summaries.
How the Digital Health Record Will Function
Starting this Saturday, health professionals in the two participating CIUSSS will exclusively use the Epic software to document patient interactions. The complete care plan, including vital signs and prescriptions, must be recorded in real-time. The system will allow various healthcare providers, including clinics and hospitals, to access this data.
Patients will also have access to their health records and appointments through the “My Health Record” mobile application developed by Santé Québec.
Reasons for a Pilot Program
This pilot, limited to just two of the 34 CIUSSS, is designed to mitigate risks and allow for adjustments based on initial feedback. The gradual rollout aims to prevent the widespread issues that accompanied the simultaneous launch of SAAQclic, which disrupted services across the province.
Impact on Healthcare Services
The deployment of the DHR will significantly affect medical activities in both CIUSSS. According to Santé Québec, medical activities will be reduced by 50% in the coming week, particularly affecting elective procedures. Additionally, cancer treatments are expected to face delays. In Mauricie, up to 60% of endoscopy appointments may be postponed, and around 20% of chemotherapy treatments will also be affected.
Concerns Among Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals have voiced concerns over potential impacts on patient care. Unlike the issues caused by SAAQclic, which affected licensing renewals, the repercussions of DHR could directly impact patient health. Specialists fear that delays in diagnoses and surgeries could arise from this transition. There are also worries about the security of patient data stored with Epic Systems.
Funding Details
In 2022, the government allocated $268 million for the initial DHR pilot. A subsequent contract worth $1.5 billion has been signed with Epic Systems to implement the system province-wide. Recent budget adjustments have increased the pilot’s cost to $402 million for just two CIUSSS, and the total project cost could exceed $1.4 billion by 2026. A complete deployment across Quebec might ultimately reach between $3 billion and $5 billion.
Christian Dubé was the Health Minister when the DHR initiative was initiated, and Geneviève Biron now oversees the project as head of Santé Québec. Concerns have been raised about the project’s readiness, with some officials calling for delays to ensure staff training and data security.
