When fully deployed, the system will give authorized health care professionals across the province a secure, single login to patient information. More than 17,000 are already registered. IBM will also operate a toll-free user helpline.
The government of Alberta is working toward a goal of every resident having an electronic health record by 2008. The record will include information from a variety of sources on patient demographics, prescriptions, allergies and lab and diagnostic imaging results, and will enable faster access to data and more coordinated patient care.
A key component of the system is Alberta’s Pharmaceutical Information Network, developed by IBM, which provides authorized healthcare professionals with secure access to a patient’s prescription history. IBM recently enhanced its speed and scalability.
