TMCnet News
Ontario eServices Program Advances eReferral InteroperabilityNovari and the Ocean eReferral Network integrate to KINGSTON, ON, Jan. 11, 2022 /CNW/ - In coordination with the Ontario eServices Program, CognisantMD (as part of the Think Research Consortium) and Novari Health have completed the first phase of integration between their solutions, leveraging the Ontario eReferral HL7 FHIR specification in alignment with the provincial digital health plan. HL7 FHIR is a recent worldwide standard technology framework, which includes safety checklists that guide implementers in ensuring data is securely transferred, making it easier to safely share and protect personal health information (PHI). Novari Health and CognisantMD (Ocean) are known for their eReferral and access to care technology solutions (Novari eRequest, Novari ATC and Ocean eReferral). As part of the Ontario eServices Program, CognisantMD and Novari Health contribute to the development of an end-to-end eReferral solution that facilitates smoother transitions in care among healthcare providers and enhances the patient experience. Additional integration work continues as vendors collaborate to build a seamless referral management ecosystem for Ontario. This transformational work and cooperation are driven by a shared vision for an electronic and efficient means to support clinicians from initial referral to specialist consult and, for some patients, surgical wait listing. The first phase of the integration enables clinicians to send eReferrals directly from their electronic medical record (EMR) systems via Ocean to central intake programs and hospitals who use Novari eRequest for intake and processing. Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG) are the first to go-live with phase 1 of this integration for both Wound Care and Musculoskeletal (MSK) pathways including Hip, Knee, Shoulder, and Spine, with other pathways coming soon. The following functionality is included in phase 1 of the integration:
Over the course of the next several months, the integration will include bi-directional messaging functionality, and allow attachments from Novari eRequest to flow bck to Ocean. "Northwestern Ontario is pleased to deploy Ocean and Novari's innovative integration as part of our digital health transformation to modernize and streamline access to care across our region," said Kelli O'Brien, President and CEO, St. Joseph's Care Group. "This vendor collaboration is a prime example of how we can work together to improve the healthcare experience for patients in the North as well as throughout Ontario," said Dr. Rhonda Crocker Ellacott, President and CEO, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute (TBRHRI). Why Join the Ontario eServices Program (eReferral) The transition to eReferral offers a number of benefits for both clinicians and patients, all of which contribute to the improved provider and patient experience within the healthcare system. Benefits include the following:
The Ontario eServices Program, which is co-led by the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) and the eConsult Centre of Excellence (eCOE), is proud to be vendor agnostic with a focus on improving the healthcare experience. The eCE holds provincial procurements with both the Think Research Consortium (Think Research, CognisantMD (Ocean), and Centre for Effective Practice), and Novari Health. With the support of this Ministry-funded program, Novari Health (Novari eRequest and Novari ATC) and CognisantMD (Ocean eReferral) intend to continue building integrations to enhance the eReferral experience. For more information on eReferral, contact the Ontario eServices Program at [email protected]. Additional information: About Novari Health About CognisantMD About the Ontario eServices Program SOURCE Novari Health Inc. |