The Role of eHealth Saskatchewan  

eHealth Saskatchewan is the Saskatchewan Treasury Board Crown Corporation with the mandate to lead Saskatchewan Electronic Health Record (EHR) planning and strategy for the province of Saskatchewan.

The work of the organization is accomplished through strategic planning, procurement, implementation, ownership, operation and management of the Saskatchewan EHR and associated provincial components and infrastructure.

eHealth's Role:

• Lead Saskatchewan's efforts and investments toward building an electronic health record for each resident; and,
• Coordinate, operate and maintain other selected IT systems on behalf of healthcare delivery organizations in the province.

Cooperation with Providers and Stakeholders

The six member eHealth Saskatchewan Board of Directors is composed of representatives from partnering groups, including the Saskatchewan Medical Association, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, health regions, the business community and the provincial government.

The partners represented on the Board of Directors are a reflection of the cooperative nature of the development and delivery of the Saskatchewan eHealth agenda, the EHR and other health information systems. The voice and needs of stakeholders including government, regional health authorities, health care organizations, providers, agents, contractors and partners in health information systems, and the public are taken into consideration.

eHealth Saskatchewan is funded by the Government of Saskatchewan with additional strategic funding from Canada Health Infoway (Infoway). Collaboration with Infoway ensures that investments provide the reported benefits of improved patient care and organizational efficiencies as well as the ability for a pan-Canadian interoperable EHR.

Standards

eHealth Saskatchewan works with stakeholders to establish the provincial health information and technology standards necessary for connecting local electronic health information systems to the Saskatchewan and pan-Canadian EHR.

Improve Value for Investment

Together with its partners, eHealth Saskatchewan procures, implements, owns, operates or manages other health information systems for the benefit of the province of Saskatchewan. Strategic investments lower costs and help stakeholder systems conform to standards and improve interoperability.

Privacy and Security

eHealth Saskatchewan provides expert advice to the Ministry of Health and provincial health regions in the areas of privacy of health information and data stewardship. eHealth Saskatchewan administers the rules for EHR data collection, use and disclosure, and establishes and administrates provincial standards to protect the quality, confidentiality and security of personal health information, as well as articulating trustee and information management roles necessary for all stakeholders providing health services in the province.

Change Management

eHealth Saskatchewan provides strong change management services that support people and organizations in the successful transition and adoption of electronic health solutions.

Origins in the Patient First Review

The Patient First Review was undertaken in 2009 to better understand health care in the province from the perspective of the patient. Recommendations from the Review are being used to revitalize health care and improve the patient experience. The creation of eHealth Saskatchewan addresses these key recommendations of the Patient First Review:

1. Better Coordinated Health Care - Through the delivery of the Pharmaceutical Information Program (PIP), diagnostic imaging/picture archiving (RIS/PACS) and electronic lab results, eHealth Saskatchewan addresses patients concerns of misplaced, unavailable or scattered health information resulting in errors, adverse events and duplication of tests. Accessible patient information is vital to improving service integration and coordinating patient care

2. A Provincial Plan - Review Commissioner Tony Dagnone urged the health system to develop a provincial plan for the continued successful implementation of a provincial electronic health record system; a One Patient: One Record eHealth system.

3. Helping patients and families receive the best care as quickly as possible - Secure eHealth databases enable authorized providers to access to test results and professional interpretation without delay.

4. Improving access to care in rural and remote areas of Saskatchewan - Clinically relevant patient information is electronically available to authorized providers through eHealth systems wherever a patient is receiving care.