Long-delayed P.E.I. hospital information system launched
16.05.2008 23:00
Health
- Source: cbc.ca
A clinical information system for P.E.I. hospitals is up and running following delays and cost overruns. 'It is really is a cultural change for the people who have been used to using paper all their life.'— Dr. Bill Walker, surgeonThe system gathers data about a patient's stay in hospital — and medications, vital signs, lab tests, X-ray reports — and stores them electronically. Doctors and nurses working with that patient can access that information at any time, at any hospital. During the past few weeks staff operated the new system, as well as the old paper system as they get used to the idea of leaving paper behind. "It's a big adjustment for people who have spent their whole working life working on paper," said Dr. Bill Walker, a surgeon at Prince County Hospital in Summerside. "The whole project is sort of looked at by a lot of people as a computer project, but it is really a cultural change for the people who have been used to using paper all their life. Training them, getting them used to picking up the computer and getting them used to using a keyboard or a mouse or a pen to input what they need to on the computer and find that information." When it was first proposed, the system was projected to be implemented at a cost of $12 million, but the most recent estimate is $29.2 million. Walker said the new system will reduce the risk of errors and keep patient information more secure. Eventually, the province hopes to link Island pharmacies into the system, allowing hospitals access to an even more complete medical history of patients. Story Tools: E-MAIL | PRINT | Text Size: SMLXL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACKRelatedInternal LinksNew health information system cost multipliesAudio The CBC's Maggie Brown gets a tour of the new system from Dr. Bill Walker and clinical development nurse Vanda DesRoches. (Runs: 6:13) Play: Real Media »Health HeadlinesMastectomies for early-stage breast cancer rise after MRI: study00The number of women who opted for mastectomy when diagnosed with early stage breast cancer increased significantly at the same time as MRI screening doubled, a new study finds. Vitamin D deficiency linked to poorer breast cancer outcomes: study00Women who are deficient in vitamin D when diagnosed with breast cancer may have a poorer prognosis compared with those having optimal amounts of the sunshine nutrient in their blood, a Canadian study suggests.Calgary woman recovering after robotic arm removes brain tumour00A surgical team in Calgary on Friday extolled the virtues of using a robotic arm to perform groundbreaking surgery to remove a woman's brain tumour. Pharmacists unhappy about new morning-after-pill availability00The emergency contraceptive drug known as Plan B will likely be coming out from behind the pharmacy counter, a move the Canadian Association of Pharmacists is not happy about.Emergency contraceptive to stay behind counter in Quebec00Canadian women might soon be able to buy the emergency contraceptive drug known as Plan B straight off the drugstore shelf rather than having to ask for it at the pharmacy counter — everywhere except in Quebec. Health FeaturesENVIRONMENTClassifying chemicals'Batch 2' up for reviewCONSUMERCalorie trackerVIDEODisaster diseasesClean water critical (Runs 4:44)HealthVitamin DBoning up on the sunshine vitaminVIDEOVitamin DDeficiencies linked to poor breast cancer prognosis (Runs 2:16)People who read this also read …
| 
Add comment