Lakeridge reaches Stage 6 of EMRAM

OSHAWA, Ont. – Lakeridge Health is pleased to announce the achievement of the prestigious Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) Stage 6 certification. This accomplishment underscores Lakeridge Health’s commitment to improving patient care through the advancement of digital health and effective use of health information technology.

“What a proud moment for Lakeridge Health,” said Dr. Ilan Lenga (pictured), chief information officer and regional chief medical information officer, Central East Ontario Clinical Information System. “The HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification is a testament to Lakeridge Health’s ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes using innovative health technologies.

“By reaching Stage 6, we have strengthened Lakeridge Health’s ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered care, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure that we’re continually improving our care delivery processes.”

HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification recognizes healthcare organizations globally that have demonstrated significant progress in the adoption and utilization of electronic medical records (EMR) and other health IT tools.

HIMSS EMRAM is a widely recognized model that helps hospitals and healthcare organizations assess their progress in health IT adoption and utilization.

Hospitals that achieve this stage have implemented advanced EMR systems that enhance clinical decision-making, streamline workflows, and ensure patient data is accessible and secure. Lakeridge Health joins a select group of Ontario hospitals to achieve this designation.

For patients, access to MyChart ensures that they have an active role in their own care and empowers patients and families to monitor their own health, while contributing data.

“This achievement marks a significant win for patients and acknowledges the transformative shift for our clinical teams,” said Dr. Larry Nijmeh, emergency physician and Lakeridge’s chief medical information officer. “This certification confirms our access to external clinical notes, results and images that contribute to more complete patient histories. This access helps avoid redundant tests and procedures.

HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification signifies that Lakeridge Health has successfully met rigorous criteria in areas such as clinical decision support, CPOE (Computerized Provider Order Entry), and data sharing across departments and the province. This achievement also highlights the hospital’s ongoing commitment to patient safety and improved healthcare outcomes through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced data analytics.

“I’d like to congratulate our teams for their tremendous effort,” said Cynthia Davis, president and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “Achieving HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 is an important milestone, but we know the work doesn’t stop here. We’re committed to continual improvement and leveraging technology to better serve our patients and our growing Durham Region communities.”

Lakeridge Health will continue to focus on enhancing its health IT systems, with plans to pursue further advancements to achieve HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7, the highest level of certification. In January, Lakeridge Health became the first health-care system in Canada to earn both the prestigious ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification – the global gold standards for information security management and privacy information management systems.

Most recently, Lakeridge Health joined seven acute care hospitals in Central East Ontario to integrate PrescribeIT, Canada’s national e-prescribing service, into a shared single instance as part of its Epic electronic Clinical Information System.

This initiative, when live, will empower over 4,100 prescribers across the collective to securely and efficiently transmit electronic prescriptions to patients’ pharmacies of choice, enhancing the safety and quality of medication management.