North Shore Health Network Among Northeastern Ontario Hospitals Going Digital Press ReleaseMay 31, 2024 On Tuesday June 4, 2024, the electronic medical records of North Shore Health Network patients will be available to authorized clinicians at 23 partner hospitals throughout Northeastern Ontario. The digital health upgrade will help make health care delivery more efficient, reduce the need for repeat testing and going over patients’ medical histories, and help prevent medical errors by providing clinicians with the information they need to make informed care decisions. “With other hospitals in the Northeast, NSHN has been working since 2018 to make this digital health transformation a reality,” said Tim Vine, NSHN President & CEO. “By making a single fully digital health record, patients will experience more seamless care in the Northeast as they journey through the hospital system.” The ONE (one person, one record, one system) Initiative is a northeast region-wide project to improve the delivery of health care through the creation of a single electronic health information system (HIS). The primary goal of this initiative is to enhance safe, evidence-based care. In addition to the digital transformation – a physical renovation has also been underway at the Blind River Site. Beginning Tuesday, “Nurse First” will be in place for the Emergency Department. This means patients arriving for the Emergency Department will be assessed by a nurse prior to completing registration. The Admitting Department, previously housed at the main entrance of the site, will move closer to the Emergency Department to ensure a smooth patient flow. This will also result in changes to registration for Laboratory and Medical Imaging services moving forward. Volunteers will be on site to assist patients and visitors with navigating the changes. “This has been an “all hands-on deck” moment for NSHN, and I truly thank every member of our Team for stepping up,” added Vine. “On June 4th this system will be “live.” While we have been training and planning for this for a number of years, a transition like this will, inevitably, affect the speed and efficiency with which we deliver services. I know our patients will be understanding of these possible delays, and know we are working to delivery the highest quality, safest, care possible.” The participating hospitals are: Anson General Hospital, Iroquois Falls Bingham Memorial Hospital, Matheson Blanche River Health, Englehart and Kirkland Lake Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre Health Sciences North, Sudbury, Hôpital Mattawa Hospital, Hôpital Notre-Dame Hospital, Hearst Hornepayne Community Hospital Lady Dunn Health Centre, Wawa Lady Minto Hospital, Cochrane, Manitoulin Health Centre, Little Current, Mindemoya North Bay Regional Health Centre, North Shore Health Network, Blind River, Thessalon & Richards Landing Sault Area Hospital, Sensenbrenner Hospital, Kapuskasing Services de santé de Chapleau Health Services Smooth Rock Falls Hospital, St. Joseph’s General, Elliot Lake Temiskaming Hospital, Temiskaming Shores Timmins and District Hospital, Weeneebayko Area Health Authority, Attawapiskat, Fort Albany and Moose Factory West Nipissing General Hospital, Sturgeon Falls, West Parry Sound Health Centre