Released on June 29, 2009
Patients in Prairie North Health Region will benefit from reduced waits and improved service with the establishment of a secure computer system for the storage, retrieval and display of diagnostic images such as X-rays and CT scans.
Lloydminster Hospital joins Battlefords Union Hospital in North Battleford, Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current and three hospitals in Saskatoon as the first hospitals in the province to have this type of digital imaging system.
Secure access to a patient's digital images will help authorized Saskatchewan health care professionals offer the highest quality of care to their patients. The system is called the Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS). The system will help reduce duplication of tests for patients and reduce travel time for those outside larger centres. Digital images are also safer, less costly and more secure than film images that need to be stored or transported to other locations.
"Using PACS, physicians can consult with specialists in Saskatoon over the phone while both view a patient's images, within minutes of the images being taken," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "The result is better access to specialists and less travel for residents of this health region."
"Health care providers in training expect to work with the latest medical technology when they graduate," Prairie North Health Region Chief Executive Officer David Fan said. "State of the art systems will attract and keep more health care providers. We believe PACS is one more tool in our recruitment strategy."
Safeguards are in place to ensure only health professionals involved in patient care access personal health information. Policies, procedures and electronic security protect information from unauthorized use, error or loss.
PACS joins the Pharmaceutical Information Program as one of the first components of a provincial electronic health record.
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For more information, contact:
Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083
Email: khill@health.gov.sk.ca