‘A critical step towards a more connected health care system,’ says Papineau Liberal MP
The Carney government in Ottawa has introduced a new bill, the Connected Care for Canadians Act, which is part of the Liberals’ strategy to build up and protect the health care system while encouraging Canadians to take more control over their health.
Tabled in the House of Commons by Papineau Liberal MP Marjorie Michel who is the Health Minister in the Carney cabinet, the basic purpose of the legislation is to enable different medical information and data systems to connect.
“Timely and secure access to personal health information is critical to saving lives and improving care for Canadians,” she said during a news conference in Ottawa earlier this month for the announcement.
“The Connected Care for Canadians Act is about empowering Canadians to securely access their own health data, so patients and those involved in their care have the information they need to make the right decisions at the right time,” she said.
All about patient safety
“This legislation is a critical step towards a more connected health care system that supports all Canadians.”
“At its core, Bill S-5 is about patient safety,” the federal health ministry said in a statement. They said another purpose of the bill is to help Canada keep pace with emerging international standards in digital health care in order to remain globally competitive.
The legislation would require all information technology (IT) companies providing digital health services in Canada to adopt common standards to support protected and secure information exchange across various platforms.
“Canadians should feel safe knowing that their medical records are secure and protected, for their own use, and for the use of their health care providers,” the health ministry says. According to the ministry, health care is one of the fastest growing sectors in Canada’s economy.
The government believes the legislation will establish the foundation needed for the health sector to benefit from AI innovations that can improve patient care, system efficiency and create economic opportunities for Canadian companies.
Secure sharing of health info
The federal government says it is collaborating with provincial and territorial partners in the development of regulations to ensure the protection and secure sharing of Canadians’ personal health data, while improving patient outcomes and ensuring existing strict privacy legislation is respected.
The burden of disconnected systems falls heavily on health care providers, according to the health ministry, which notes that only 29 per cent of providers currently share electronic information securely and seamlessly outside of their offices.
Technology has also not kept up with the times, says the government, noting that fax machines are still commonly used by medical professionals. Canadians also have to walk around with printed copies of their health records, while other sectors moved to fully digital decades ago.
“When personal health information can travel freely and securely between patients, clinics, hospitals and labs, people will have better health outcomes and doctors will have more time to focus on care,” said Dr. Margot Burnell, president of the Canadian Medical Association.
Missed benefits, says health CEO
Anderson Chuck, president and CEO of the Canadian Institute for Health Information, maintained that Canada’s single payer system has created world class health data, even though its benefits are being missed.
“Canadians feel these effects every day in delayed care, missed insights and systems that cannot respond to their needs quickly enough,” he said.
The Connected Care for Canadians Act recognizes that timely, secure access to health information is foundational to better care, said Michael Green, president and CEO of Canada Health Infoway.
“By supporting modern digital standards and trusted data sharing, the legislation helps ensure patients can access their health information, providers can coordinate care more effectively, and the health system can respond more efficiently to growing demands,” said Green.
Country’s nurses on board
The Canadian Nurses Association supports efforts to modernize the sharing and use of health information across Canada.
“Secure, timely access to personal health information is essential for nurse practitioners and nurses to deliver high-quality, coordinated care and improved patient outcomes,” said Dr. Kimberly LeBlanc, president of the CNA.
Nurses across Canada seem poised to welcome the Connected Care for Canadians Act. “Fulsome access to patient health data gives nurses the information they need to make safe decisions and reduces unnecessary stress on frontline providers,” said Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
The country’s family physicians are also on board. “Family doctors see every day how fragmented health information puts patients at risk,” said Dr. Sarah Cook, president of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.
Accelerating standards adoption
According to the federal health ministry, nearly 60 per cent of physicians say that administrative burden contributes directly to worsening mental health. Federal, provincial and territorial governments are working together to set a path forward to connected care through common interoperability and data standards.
The federal health ministry maintains that Bill S-5 will accelerate adoption of these standards and prohibit data blocking, but would only apply in provinces and territories that do not have substantially similar legislation in place.
