Annual Report 2019 – 2020

Driving the Future of Digital Health

Read our full Annual Report

“OntarioMD offers a unique value. With a comprehensive understanding of the needs of on-the-ground clinicians, we are singularly positioned to support the transformation of complex health care systems through innovative digital solutions and tools.”
Sarah Hutchison, CEO, OntarioMD

From our CEO and Board Chair

The pace of global change is unprecedented, driven largely by technological disruption and demand for new, modern and efficient delivery of services. OntarioMD is driving and enabling innovation in health care in Canada, developing an ever-expanding portfolio of digital health tools and services that allow clinicians to practice efficiently and connect to health care systems in real time.

As the only truly provincial digital health network in Canada, OntarioMD demonstrated its value in 2020 as the most challenging global public health crisis of our generation took hold. We will stay ahead of system changes in this fast-moving environment, creating innovative systems, smart tools, and trusted supports that serve clinicians well as they adapt and thrive in our digital world.

“Ontario’s new Digital First for Health strategy will bring the patient experience into the 21^st century and help end hallway health care by offering more choices and making health care simpler, easier and more convenient for patients. At the same time, this new strategy will harness the imagination and capabilities of Ontario’s digital health innovators to improve care for all Ontarians.”
Ontario government news release Nov. 13, 2019

By the Numbers

19,000+

Ontario clinicians & staff using electronic medical records to deliver more efficient and effective patient care

11 million+

Ontario patients benefiting from an electronic medical record, and that number is on the rise

Significant Savings

in Ontario health care costs through innovation and efficiency

527

hospitals and specialty clinics, and 11,214 clinicians connected to HRM

1,064

clinicians using i4C Dashboard

101

physicians and specialists used the EMR Progress Assessment tool this year

1,177

completed Privacy and Security Training

1,139

hours spent by Peer Leaders providing support services in clinics, consultations and at educational events

7,098

people have attended OntarioMD’s educational events since 2012

1,206

clinicians and 485 clinic staff connected to OntarioMD’s Bundle, bringing the total number to date to 2,870

Numbers are as at March 31, 2020. For current information, please visit OntarioMD.ca.

“Patients across the province…want to have more choices in how they connect with their care providers; if they can video-chat with friends and family, why can’t they do the same with a health care professional?”
Rueben Devlin 2019 report: A Healthy Ontario, Building a Sustainable Health Care System

Leslie’s Story

After falling, Leslie, a 56-year-old woman with Type 2 diabetes, goes to the Emergency Department. In this short storybook, we will look at how digital health services deployed by her family physician, Dr. John Smith, allow her to experience a seamless health care journey.

An X-ray reveals no fractures. The ER doctor is concerned about opioid usage or other medications that may have caused the fall and checks ConnectingOntario ClinicalViewer to view medication history. Leslie is discharged and Dr. Smith is informed through an eNotification via HRM that she had been admitted to hospital and discharged.

Dr. Smith has developed a Practice Improvement Plan through participation in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario Quality Improvement and Quality Assessment program. He has also requested advice from an OntarioMD Peer Leader, who recommends Dr. Smith deploy OntarioMD’s Insights4Care program to help him to identify high-risk patient population for COVID-19.

Through the i4C Advisory Service, Dr. Smith is advised he could also use i4C Dashboard to identify diabetic patients in need of care. Leslie has been identified as a high-risk patient and her last visit had been more than 12 months ago, with her HbA1C at 8.2.

Dr. Smith has notified staff to book Leslie for a diabetic follow up. When he receives the Health Record Manager (HRM) eNotification informing him Leslie had an ER visit, he is concerned the fall might be due to diabetic nerve damage, and expedites Leslie’s follow up visit.

Dr. Smith schedules an appointment with Leslie, and uses EMR tools to access relevant data, and ensure her HbA1C, Lipid Profile, Alb, Cr, retinal & foot exam will be monitored and tracked in accordance with best practice guidelines.

When he asks whether she had a recent blood test, Leslie confirms a blood test a few months ago, when she showed up to a walk-in clinic for flu like symptoms. She does not remember whether blood sugar was checked.

Dr. Smith did not receive that report, but is able to access it through an OLIS query. The lab record shows the HbA1C level has been 8.4, higher than recorded in her last visit.

Concerned that Leslie’s diabetes may not be in control, Dr. Smith uses eConsult to consult with an endocrinologist, who suggests a change in medication and follow-up every three months, as well as lifestyle and diet modifications. A dietician is recommended, giving Leslie greater control over her condition and helping to keep her out of hospital.

Dr. Smith prescribes the new medication and orders new blood work. He books Leslie’s next appointment. His EMR will remind the receptionist to follow up with Leslie if lab results are not received when expected. Dr. Smith feels confident that they are effectively monitoring Leslie’s condition.

“OntarioMD’s advisors provide a superior level of help and expertise. They are always there to answer our questions – and around the clock too.”
Ashley Anderson, Office Manager for QHC Regional Paediatric Services Consulting Group in Belleville, Ontario

Products & Services Driving Transformation

What they are:
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) enhance efficiency and patient care by allowing for the efficient transmission and sharing of electronic records directly to clinician’s offices. OntarioMD is evolving EMRs, by creating innovative new integrated digital tools to help clinicians provide patient-centred care efficiently in the increasingly complex health care system.

The value they bring:
Eliminating paper reports brings tremendous clinical value through better practice efficiency and patient outcomes. Clinicians are assured immediate access to the high-quality patient data and reports they need for responsive care, while drastically shortening wait times and resources needed to process paper records. New tools are regularly introduced.

Proof point:
19,000+ clinicians in Ontario have adopted EMRs since OntarioMD’s creation OntarioMD has partnered with Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Ontario Health – Digital Services to integrate the Digital Health Drug Repository and Digital Health Immunization Repository into EMRs to provide vital information on dispensed drugs, pharmacy services, and immunization. This is in partnership with Ministry of Health and Ontario Health – Digital Services (eHealth Ontario).

What it is:
An award-winning digital tool that enables clinicians using an OntarioMD-certified EMR to securely receive electronic patient reports sent by participating hospitals and specialty clinics directly into patients’ charts. HRM sends narrative, text-based Medical Record and Diagnostic Imaging. HRM won a 2019 MedTech Breakthrough Award for Best Overall Health Informatics Solution.

The value it brings:
HRM improves communication among health providers, eliminating paper, saving time and avoiding costs. HRM also offers Ontario Health Teams an opportunity to support patient access to, and use of, their health information as they advocate for themselves and manage their health.

Proof point:
Hospitals send 13M reports a year. Using HRM’s single system for report delivery saves an average of 30 minutes per physician per day in processing paper.

More Info

What it is:
OntarioMD certifies EMRs for clinician use in Ontario, a mandatory requirement to access provincial digital health tools, and also monitors EMR vendors’ compliance with current requirements and obligations as defined in OntarioMD’s EMR Vendor Certification Agreement.

The value it brings:
Provides assurance to physicians and the digital health community that EMR vendors and their products are meeting minimum requirements to drive EMR maturity towards improved clinical value and improved exchange of EMR data.

Proof point:
19,000+ Ontario clinicians and staff using OntarioMD-certified electronic medical records 14 EMR products certified by OntarioMD

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What it is:
Community-based family physicians, specialists and nurse practitioners using an OntarioMD-certified EMR can connect to the Ontario Laboratories Information System (OLIS) to securely access the latest lab results for their patients or perform patient queries. OntarioMD is leading deployment on behalf of Ontario Health.

The value it brings:
Physicians can get timely access to comprehensive patient lab information for improved decision-making, and efficient integration into workflows. For patients this means better management of chronic diseases and fewer visits to the lab for unnecessary or duplicate lab tests.

Proof point:
4.4M OLIS queries performed by clinicians in 2019-2020

More Info

What it is:
eConsult facilitates timely access to specialist advice for clinicians. OntarioMD is leading the integration of the eConsult service within clinician EMRs. EMR integration of eConsult complements the web service on OTNhub by offering clinicians an additional and convenient access point.

The value it brings:
Clinicians enhance patient care through easy access directly within the EMR to advice from specialists. This often avoids an unnecessary referral for an in-person visit to a specialist.

Proof point:
1,069 consults were provided through eConsult in 2019-20 90% of surveyed clinicians who use e-Consult through their EMRs say that it improves workflow

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What it is:
An online self-assessment tool to help EMR users evaluate whether they are unlocking the power of their EMR and EMR data for full potential in key areas such as practice management, information management and diagnosis and treatment support. Our team supports clinicians in optimizing functions in areas identified for improvement.

The value it brings:
OntarioMD is providing hands-on support to clinicians and primary care providers to help uncover gaps in practice workflow, efficiency and patient care. Clinicians are in the driver’s seat as they assess the most desired areas of growth using their EMRs and prioritize improvements.

Proof point:
101 clinicians deployed the EMR Progress Assessment Tool in 2019-2020

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What they are:
A network of 60+ physicians, nurses and clinic managers across Ontario who are expert users of EMRs and are available to help physician practices realize more clinical value from the EMR and the digital tools it enables.

The value they bring:
Peer Leaders understand the needs and challenges faced by busy community practices, and their consulting services can optimize the use of the EMR to advance the quality of patient data and deliver better patient care.

Proof point:
Designed to serve 19,000+ clinicians and their staff in enhancing EMR use. 7,000+ have engaged with a Peer Leader.

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What they are:
OntarioMD provides privacy and security training, including tools and resources to physician practices to ensure understanding of the role and responsibilities as Health Information Custodians under the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), and other laws, as well as new technologies and cyberthreats.

The value they bring:
Provides training to physicians and their staff in their role as health information custodians on relevant topics to facilitate their use of technology in an increasingly digital world and ensure they are fulfilling their obligations.

Proof point:
1,177 received Privacy and Security Training in 2019-2020 to educate themselves on protecting PHI and preventing privacy breaches.

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What it is:
OntarioMD’s award-winning Insights4Care (i4C) program offers tools and services to help clinicians gain better insights about their patients and to make improvements in their care. The i4C Dashboard is an EMR-integrated population health management tool based on real-time EMR data, providing at a glance a set of indicators or specific data on an individual patient to proactively manage chronic disease or take preventative care action.

The value it brings:
Helps turn data into better patient outcomes, through preventative care and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Reference information providing a snapshot of the latest research on a variety of conditions is easily accessible through the Help Resources tool on the OntarioMD website.

Proof point:
1,064 clinicians now using i4C Dashboard, a doubling over 18 months
228 clincians have benefited from i4C’s advisory service
30 health indicators now available, and number is growing

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What it is:
OntarioMD supports its partners using a streamlined onboarding approach that bundles multiple digital health tools into a single, convenient visit. Bundles can include products such as ONE® ID – eHealth Ontario’s identity and access management service providing secure delivery of provincial digital health assets such as eConsult.

The value it brings:
Bundling digital health services through OntarioMD is an efficient and convenient way for clinicians to address their practice needs using innovative digital health and quality improvement tools.

Proof point:
1,206 clinicians and 485 clinic staff connected to OntarioMD’s Bundle this year, bringing the total number to date to 2,870

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What it is:
OntarioMD’s flagship conference is Canada’s largest EMR conference series focused on showcasing the benefits of certified EMRs and other digital health tools for better patient care and practice efficiency. Held twice a year, the conference brings together family physicians, specialists and other clinicians, practice staff, EMR vendors, government representatives, patient advocates and health care sector stakeholders to learn practical digital health tips and best practices that can immediately be applied to their own patient care.

The value it brings:
Attendees can hear about the latest trends in digital health care, gain practical advice on how to optimize OntarioMD platforms and tools, and network with each other on what works in their own practices.

Proof point:
100s of clinicians register each year. A virtual edition planned for 2020-21 is expected to attract thousands of registrants from across Ontario, Canada and around the world.

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“(Health Report Manager) is fantastic. When a patient comes in to see me, I have a report from emergency, from the specialist. It’s all right there. I know what’s happened before the patient tells me. It’s been a game changer.”
Dr. Chandi Chandrasena, OntarioMD Physician Peer Leade

Our Strong Governance

Our experienced, respected leadership team is key to OntarioMD’s ability to remain agile, adaptable, and drive value for clinicians, patients and the health care system as a whole. The individuals listed here have considerable experience in health care and technology. Individually and collectively, they have forged relationships with clinicians, technology vendors, health care sector partners, patient advocates, government and other key stakeholders.