“It was a lot of work. We not only had to do our regular work of gathering information but, at the same time, use a new, time-consuming, often non-intuitive, mega-multi-step EMR system to get our work done,” he said. “But it lets us provide far better care, because we’re making decisions based on much better information than we used to have.”
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is part of Ontario’s eHealth initiative and there is a movement afoot to have all patient records digitized by 2015.
"EHealth in its current form has been a disaster," he told The Canadian Press.
He's right on that score, but guess what? Back in 2003, before the Liberals took office, there was something called the Smart Systems for Health Agency. It was a Tory initiative, which was also supposed to do the same thing, in a different way, with a different name. It was a disaster, too.
Council recently passed the city’s 2013 budget with a tax hike of 5.27% – a rather low number compared to previous increases of about 8% last year and 9% in 2011.
Still, the GNCC says a 21% tax hike over a three year span is hurting Thorold’s ability to retain businesses and more sharing of services with partnering municipalities would help mitigate the escalating cost of services.
Read more: CA: Ontario: Greater Niagara Chamber urges Thorold to pursue more shared services
Seriously. Would patients willingly unburden themselves about a profound mental problem while sitting alone in a room, in front of a camera, miles from the shrink’s couch?
Yes, it turns out.
Whether a sign of our evolving sensibilities in this digital age or just evidence of a huge practical advantage, remote psychiatry is booming at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre.
Read more: CA: Ontario: Technology shrinks distance for psychiatry in remote areas