In a recent CBC article, Dr. Ewan Affleck shed light on a growing problem that’s putting Canadians’ health at risk: disjointed health information systems that fail to connect the dots. A report from Alberta highlights just how fragmented our healthcare data can be, leading to preventable medical errors and even death. But this isn’t just Alberta’s problem—British Columbians are facing the same challenges. For family doctors in B.C., who provide continuous, personalized care, our system’s inability to seamlessly share patient information is a huge roadblock to quality care.
Family doctors: Specialists in primary care
Family doctors are specialists in primary care, serving as the first point of contact for patients and managing everything from routine checkups to complex, chronic conditions. You play a vital role in ensuring patients receive continuous, personalized care over their lifetime—a goal that is becoming harder to achieve with our fragmented digital health systems.
EMRs: A solution that’s falling short
Last year, you shared your frustrations in our members’ survey.
You told us:
- Electronic medical records (EMRs) don’t work well with other systems and aren’t set up the same way everywhere.
- EMRs don’t simplify processes like filling out forms or making referrals.
- Training to use EMRs is limited.
- Technical issues are common, with long waits for support after submitting help tickets.
One doctor put it bluntly: “We can’t even get half of the hospital records to load half the time, and the log-ins are a joke; half of our office has given up because it never worked to begin with. Pharmanet—we just call the pharmacy.”
The way forward: Improve, support, connect
EMRs have the potential to link providers across the province, improve patient care, and reduce redundancies. But unless they are improved and standardized, with training and on-demand tech support provided, their value will remain unrealized.
We need:
- Improved EMR systems across B.C. to ensure all healthcare providers can seamlessly share information.
- Increased funding for technological supports to relieve the burden on family doctors.
- On-demand tech support and comprehensive training to help doctors leverage the full capabilities of their EMRs.
A call to action: Prioritize seamless data sharing
It’s time for B.C. to prioritize improvements and requirements for EMRs, ensuring they are supporting patient care, rather than creating harm. This is crucial for supporting family doctors in providing the best care possible. And if provincial efforts fall short, we hope the federal government will step in to address these gaps through initiatives like Bill C-72, the Connected Care for Canadians Act.
By focusing on seamless data sharing, we can help family doctors deliver continuous, high-quality care, improving outcomes for patients across the province.