iEHR/Lab Results Repository

The Saskatchewan iEHR/Lab Results Repository (SLRR) project is being undertaken by eHealth Saskatchewan in partnership with Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) to provide timely and accurate laboratory test results to the people using the information. In short, to "ensure health care professionals have secure access to the right lab results, at the right time and place". Through the provision of accurate and timely lab results, it is expected that the overarching objective to provide better quality patient care will be met.

A focus of the project is the electronic distribution of lab results to a variety of destinations but foremost to physician office computer systems. In order to facilitate this distribution, the project will see the implementation of pan-Canadian standards to "normalize" the differing lab test result names and message formats.

The solution will enhance quality of care and patient safety, improve Canadians' access to health services, and make the health care system more efficient.

The project will be implemented along with the first release of the iEHR in the province and include lab results as one of the initial data sources.

The project affects a wide range of stakeholders. The list below identifies some of the key ones:

Health Care Providers

• electronic access to lab results

Labs in the Health Regions

• introduction of the interface to the provincial solution
• introduction of new shared responsibility for electronic result tracking and delivery

Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory (SDCL)

• introduction of the interface to the provincial solution
• introduction of new shared responsibility for electronic result tracking and delivery

General Public

• privacy considerations

Additional governance structure will need to be put in place to account for the ongoing ownership and accountability for the lab result repository. This accountability will most likely lie within the Ministry of Health either solely or shared with the health regions

A communication and change management plan has been established to ensure that tactical strategies for transition and implementation are appropriately managed.

A key to ensuring stakeholder involvement is by establishing broad representation on the project steering committee from the various stakeholder groups to provide guidance regarding the project vision and direction.