Noting the importance of consistency of privacy and security requirements between the two certification programs, both organizations have collaborated to streamline the process for vendors. By completing an EMR alignment assessment, equivalent requirements were identified and the evidence necessary to demonstrate compliance with the requirements have been harmonized. As a result, EMR vendors can now ask each certification body to share their evidence documents, reducing the effort required in assessing their adherence to the other certification body’s requirements.
"Infoway and OntarioMD acknowledge the importance of the privacy and security of handling Canadians' personal health information," said Michael Green, President and CEO, Canada Health Infoway. "Recognizing OntarioMD’s EMR Certification Program in Ontario, we're pleased to collaborate with OntarioMD to bring this important benefit to our mutual clients."
Infoway’s Certification Service Program provides assurance that digital health software complies with specified requirements in standards and other normative documents. Following an extensive review and stakeholder consultation process, the program introduced enhanced privacy and security requirements (2017 Edition) that build upon Infoway’s original certification requirements and are harmonized to reduce testing redundancies and increase alignment between Infoway, provincial requirements and international standards.
OntarioMD's EMR Certification Program was established in 2001 to promote the adoption of EMRs by community-based physicians. In 2017, OntarioMD undertook a modernization of its EMR Certification Program, including an updated EMR Certification Agreement and updated Specifications. OntarioMD’s comprehensive certification program is recognized for the leadership it brings to digital health on issues pertaining to quality, safety and standards in EMR integration. Today, more than 15,000 primary care physicians, specialists and nurse practitioners in Ontario are using OntarioMD-certified EMRs.
"Given our work with vendors to advance digital health adoption in Canada, we are pleased to complete this work with Canada Health Infoway to reduce the burden on EMR vendors who pursue EMR certification by reducing duplication where the two EMR certification programs overlap." said Sarah Hutchison, CEO, OntarioMD.
More information on how the two organizations are collaborating to align their respective certification programs is available on OntarioMD.ca.
About OntarioMD
OntarioMD is unique in its ability to deliver the full spectrum of high-quality digital health programs and services for physicians across the province. Today, well over 15,000 community-based family physicians, specialists and nurse practitioners use digital health tools across Ontario, supported by OntarioMD’s infrastructure, relationships and experience to achieve Patients First priorities.
OntarioMD supports Ontario's physicians with practical advice from Peer Leaders and experienced Practice Advisors who help them optimize their EMR use to enhance patient care and achieve greater practice efficiency.
Certified EMRs are a foundational access point for provincial digital health services and enable access to Health Report Manager (HRM), eNotifications, Provincial eConsult Initiative, OLIS Deployment, EMR Physician Dashboard, Peer Leader Program, EMR Practice Enhancement Program . For more information about these services, please visit OntarioMD.ca.
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government.
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Haley Armstrong
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Kathy Tudor
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@OntarioEMRs