The Chatham-Kent Health Alliance is just days away from the official launch of a new reginal health care information system.
The e-VOLVE platform links up the two Chatham-Kent hospitals with Leamington’s Erie Shores Health Care, Windsor Regional, and Hotel-Dieu Grace.
Health Alliance CEO Lori Marshall says it’s good news for doctors and patients alike.
“Say you had to be transferred to Winsor Regional for a procedure there or for whatever reason ended up in Leamington or Hotel Dieu, then your information is sitting there and is available for the clinicians in that area.”
Patients can expect their information to be collected in a new and upgraded computer system. In addition, medications will now be confirmed electronically using Workstations on Wheels and finally, their information will be shared instantly and securely between members of the care team, increasing timely decision-making.
“Every medication is barcoded, all of our patients’ armbands are barcoded, the physician is entering the order, no need to interpret, we call that a closed loop medication system,” Marshall says. “What it means is it’s virtually error-free now, the chance of a patient getting the wrong medication at the wrong time is really almost eliminated.”
The system is set to go live on Sunday, and the hospital is asking for patience. Staff and physicians will now be charting electronically and although staff have all been trained on the systems, officials say the process is new and will be a work in progress for the first little while.
