Niagara hospitals switch on new Oracle/Cerner HIS

ST. CATHARINES, Ont. – Niagara Health and Hotel Dieu Shaver have launched a new and advanced Hospital Information System (HIS) that’s designed to improve the delivery of care. The move to a state-of-the-art Oracle/Cerner system is set to enhance coordination, efficiency and access to information.

Niagara Health is a regional hospital system with multiple sites and a growing network of community-based and virtual services. Its team is made up of more than 7,300 employees, physicians, volunteers and patient partners.

For its part, Hotel Dieu Shaver Health and Rehabilitation Centre is a specialty hospital that excels in providing rehabilitation and complex care to thousands of patients across the Niagara Region.

The hospitals anticipate the following benefits from the new solution:

• Improved access: Patient health records can be accessed electronically from anywhere.
• Enhanced safety: Easy access for clinicians to health information will help inform decision-making and enhance patient safety.
• Reduced duplication: All care providers can access health records and test results, reducing duplication and repetition.
• Enriched communication: Patients can access their own health records, helpful resources and education materials.
• Better data for decisions: Analytics, trends and other important health data can help improve decision-making.
• Greater reliability: Upgraded technology helps to increase reliability and sustainability by replacing outdated systems.

“After years of planning, collaboration and dedication from our teams at Niagara Health and Hotel Dieu Shaver, we have successfully implemented a new hospital information system that is going to advance how we deliver care and improve the experience for our patients, caregivers, staff and physicians,” said Sonali Kohli (pictured), executive vice-president, Digital Transformation and chief information officer.

“This project has impacted almost every member of our teams in some way, and we are so incredibly proud of how our staff and physicians have come together to support and contribute to this massive project. Through a system that will improve access to information and increase the safety, reliability and efficiency of our services, we have successfully achieved our vision to positively and powerfully transform care in Niagara.”

Critical care physician Dr. Natasha Ovtcharenko added, “The transition to the new HIS will be a major and exciting shift for Niagara Health, which will help us improve our efficiency and most importantly, patient care.,”

The HIS is designed to simplify managing patient information, leading to safer, quicker and more personalized healthcare. It is a vital element to support Niagara Health’s delivery of modern, world-class healthcare services. It is going to improve how staff and physicians do their jobs, and also benefit patients and families.

Healthcare teams will have immediate access to complete patient medical records, including their conditions, medications, allergies and past visits – all in one secure system. This means faster informed care decisions to ensure the right treatment is given at the right time.

With clear, accurate information at their fingertips, healthcare providers can reduce the risk of errors, enhancing patient safety and reliability in treatment.

No more deciphering handwritten notes or searching through piles of paper charts. The new HIS provides clear, accurate information to healthcare professionals and patients, reducing the risk of errors.

This helps protect patients from misunderstandings related to prescription orders or even overlooked allergies, ultimately leading to safer, dependable care. Patient safety is our first priority.

There will be one source of truth for patient records, allowing for more focused and personalized interactions.

“Centralizing all patient documentation and data will make a significant impact in prescriber efficiency, giving us more time to spend with patients,” said Dr. Ovtcharenko.

With the new HIS, there’s one comprehensive record of a patient’s health history. Medical information, test results and prescriptions are securely stored and available to the entire care team. Patients do not need to retell their story at every visit, saving valuable time for healthcare providers and putting the focus on personalized care.

Patients will have new digital tools to easily manage their healthcare journey.

“At the heart of care is caring. Our new HIS supports caring with modern electronic tools that augment safety, communications, workflows and decision-making,” says Dr. Rafi Setrak, regional chief of Emergency Medicine.

Patients will be able to stay connected in their healthcare journey with better communication. They can book, change, register or check appointments virtually, view clinical information, access education materials and, in collaboration with other Niagara Health digital tools, securely communicate with their care team. This will make it easier for patients to share essential information and ask questions, allowing them to understand and take control of their health.

Real-time insights from the new system will drive improvements to patient outcomes and help us refine clinical practices.

“Looking into the future we will have the ability to capture point-of-care data which can be used for quality improvement projects that advance practice outcomes,” said Dr. Helen Caetano, chief of Surgery.

Knowledge is power and the new HIS leverages the power of data to inform clinical direction. By analyzing trends and accessing real-time insights, healthcare teams can make informed decisions precisely tailored to each individual, ensuring they provide the best possible care.

The HIS is being developed by a dedicated team of over 150 experts, who are implementing this transformational change with valuable input from various advisory committees and working groups.

While preparing for the launch, teams across Niagara Health are undergoing comprehensive training to master the new system. This innovation represents more than just a digital tool; it is a significant advancement in enhancing patient care in Niagara.

Learn more about the HIS