Healthtech, a company specializing in information management for the Canadian healthcare system, recently released a new set of integrated solutions, which include EMR (electronic medical record) Adoption, Virtual Health, Clinical and Business Transformation, and Rural and Northern Health. Each is a standalone solution designed to meet the needs of organizations in key business areas.
The EMR Adoption solution evaluates a medical practice's healthcare information systems solution using HIMSS EMR adoption stages as benchmarks. Virtual Health allows practices to use data, voice, image and video to deliver healthcare where it is needed instead of being limited to site-based care.
Healthtech's Clinical and Business Transformation Solution optimizes IT, improves technology and information between organizations, reduces wait times and simplifies complex administrative tasks.
The company's Rural and Northern Health solution delivers planning, implementation, integration and clinical adoption services to areas with low population densities and geographically dispersed points of care.
Each Healthtech solution is a mix of products and services. For example, Healthtech personnel also provide managed solutions by working as interim CIOs, department heads, project team leads, subject matter experts and advisors.
Canada's government began investing in EMRs in 1997. Officials describe the EMR as the backbone of a number of healthcare IT initiatives including telemedicine, patient administration systems, lab and radiology information systems, remote monitoring and electronic prescribing.
The Canada Health Infoway is partnering with territories and provinces to increase the number of clinics using EMRs. As of March 2013, the initiative enrolled 12,000 clinicians in its jurisdictional EMR programs.
The Infoway certified EMR programs by looking both at the solution and how the practice manages the solution. Assessment criteria focus on privacy, interoperability, management and security.
Healthtech hopes that its solutions will help clinicians to cut costs and reduce risks associated with IT purchases. The company also hopes to implement uniform, standards-based solutions across the country by delivering trusted and interoperable solutions.
Edited by
Rachel Ramsey
