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Canadians see EHRs as Rx for prescription errors

EHR Connection, December 3, 2007

Nearly nine in 10 Canadians (88%) support EHR development, according to a survey by Canada Health Infoway, a nonprofit organization whose goal is to accelerate use of the technology nationwide.

Infoway, whose members are Canada's 14 federal, provincial, and territorial deputy ministers of health, announced the survey results in a November 19 press release.

The vast majority of respondents recognize the benefits of EHRs. Specifically, 87% of respondents believe EHRs contribute to quicker and more accurate diagnoses, 82% believe EHRs reduce prescription errors, and 84% want the ability to access their own medical records online.

The survey similarly revealed strong support for privacy and security safeguards to protect health information. The study found that 77% of respondents want audit trails that document access to their health information, 74% want stiff penalties for unauthorized access, and 66% think clear privacy policies are necessary to protect their health information. Seven in 10 respondents said they want procedures in place to respond to security breaches and that they would want to be informed if a breach occurred.

Established in 2001, Infoway invests in a common, pan-Canadian framework of EHR systems that allows regions to share and replicate best practices and successful projects in pursuit of Canada's goal of a healthcare system that offers improved accessibility, quality, and productivity, according to the press release.

Click here to read the press release.

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