Patients across Eastern Ontario will now have easier access to their medical records, as eight additional hospitals have joined a regional digital health network designed to improve communication between hospitals and make it easier for patients to receive care at different facilities.
The expansion of the Atlas Alliance includes Glengarry Memorial Hospital in Alexandria and Hôpital Montfort in Ottawa, bringing the network to 18 participating health-care organizations across the region and beyond.
The new system, called Epic, allows participating hospitals to securely share patient information, including medical histories, medications, allergies, test results and previous treatments. It means doctors and other authorized health-care professionals can access important information when a patient receives treatment at another hospital within the network.
For residents of Prescott-Russell and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, the change could be particularly beneficial for those who regularly travel between local hospitals and larger medical centres in Ottawa for specialized care.
The Hawkesbury and District General Hospital and Winchester District Memorial Hospital were already members of the Atlas Alliance, along with The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute.
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The eight hospitals officially began using the expanded system on October 24, with the announcement made on October 27.
Other facilities joining the network include Arnprior Regional Health, Pembroke Regional Hospital, Queensway Carleton Hospital, The Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre, Almonte General Hospital and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital.
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One of the biggest changes for patients is access to MyChart, a free and secure online portal that allows people to view much of their medical information from their computer, tablet or smartphone.
Through MyChart, patients can review available laboratory results, medical reports, upcoming appointments, discharge information and other details about their care.
Patients who already have a MyChart account through another participating hospital, including Hawkesbury or The Ottawa Hospital, do not need to create a new account. Their information from other participating facilities will become accessible through their existing account.
At Glengarry Memorial Hospital, MyChart replaces the previous Connected Care patient portal.
According to the hospital, the last three years of medical information will be transferred to the new system. Older records will remain available by contacting the hospital’s Health Records Department.
The previous Connected Care portal will remain accessible until December 18, giving patients time to download any documents they wish to keep.
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Glengarry Memorial Hospital President and CEO Robert Alldred-Hughes described the launch as a historic milestone for the Alexandria hospital, emphasizing the importance of having patient information available wherever people receive treatment.
The hospital says the transition follows approximately a year of preparation, staff training and collaboration with other participating health-care organizations.
The expansion is also expected to reduce the need for patients to repeatedly provide the same medical information when visiting different hospitals, while giving health-care professionals a more complete picture of their medical history.
However, hospital officials are warning that patients may experience some delays during the transition.
Thousands of doctors, nurses and other hospital employees have undergone training to use the new technology. As staff become familiar with the system, some appointments, tests and hospital visits may take longer than usual over the coming weeks.
Hospitals are asking patients and families for patience while employees adjust to the new procedures.
The Atlas Alliance is intended to create a more connected health-care system throughout Eastern Ontario, allowing patients to move between participating hospitals without their medical information being left behind.
For patients in Alexandria, Hawkesbury, Winchester and surrounding communities, the expansion represents another step toward improving access to health information and coordination of care across the region.