Election: Pringle on paperwork

NEWS RELEASE

JOSH PRINGLE PC CANDIDATE SAULT STE. MARIE

************************* Pringle says: Patient E-record is a key to better health care

SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – Local PC Candidate Josh Pringle said that in this age of instant information, it is inexcusable that our healthcare system is bogged down by an out-dated reliance on paper records, faxed test results and telephone referrals.

“Patients can’t understand how their bank tellers, or pizza delivery services can access information about their purchasing history, but their doctors or specialists can’t access their medical information, especially when having information that could save their lives or those of loved ones,” said Pringle.

Expert after expert has studied electronic health records, and report after report has said that electronic health records will improve patient care, reduce delays, lower the cost, and prevent potentially deadly medical errors.

Dalton McGuinty’s has failed miserably in his efforts to manage e-health technology in Ontario, despite repeated calls for action.

Deloitte Consulting recently said that Dalton’s weak effort in this area is “poorly regarded in the health-care community, lacks strategic direction, and has not been held properly accountable by the government.”

“Because Dalton’s lack of a plan or vision to deliver e-health technology, Ontario is spending more and more taxpayer dollars without any visible results and the province is falling further and further behind the rest of Canada in improving our health care,” said Pringle.

“A John Tory government will give everyone in Ontario a secure, private, lifetime electronic record of his or her patient history and care,” said Pringle.

“Patients will have the right to control their personal information, and opt out if they so desire. It’s about getting the right information in the right hands at the right time to support health care decision-making. This will allow more patients to be treated with fewer potential mistakes, fewer unnecessary tests and less paper work.”

“Today, medical information records are physically stored at the point of care. That means some of your information is at the hospital, some with your family doctor, some at the walk-in clinic, some at a lab,” said Pringle. “A John Tory PC Government will bring all information to one place to improve patient care, support health care providers and reduce costs in the health care system.”

Electronic health records reduce the number of unnecessary duplicate tests and laboratory work saving patients hours of inconvenience and reducing waste in the health care system.

Electronic health records also support our health care professionals – replacing time-consuming, often redundant paper records.

Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory today delivered his commitment to a comprehensive e-health strategy, providing Ontarians with better health care.

“Patients in Ontario deserve a health care system that utilizes the latest technology to ensure they get the best care possible,” said Tory. “An electronic health record for patients is the missing – and essential – link to providing patients with better, faster and safer health care.”

Tory reiterated the Ontario PC plan to invest an additional $540 million over the next four years to implement e-health technology including an electronic patient record.

Benefits of e-records for patients:

- Timely access and results.

- More time for doctors and nurses to spend with patients, rather than filling out cumbersome paperwork.

- Greater input for patients into the care they receive. - A comprehensive overview of a patient’s medical history so that doctors can make the most appropriate diagnosis. - Minimized risks and waiting (less medication errors, no duplicate tests, etc.) - Ease of sharing information between health care providers.

A John Tory PC Government will work aggressively to take full advantage of the federal funding allocated towards this project.

The e-health initiative will bring smoother access to care and improve patient safety, in addition to providing better health-system planning and increased efficiency and accountability.

“Dalton McGuinty has failed to show real results. Despite his promise and the $458 million that Ontario taxpayers have invested into this project, Ontario currently lags behind the progress of other provinces,” said Tory.

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