Novari’s referral management deployed at Island Health

VICTORIA, BC – Novari Health, a VitalHub company, is proud to announce that Island Health has enhanced its diagnostic imaging referral management workflows by implementing Novari’s Medical Imaging Requisition Management (MIRM) technology across Vancouver Island.

Novari MIRM was deployed at 16 Island Health sites to more efficiently manage the receipt, processing, protocolling, and wait list management workflows associated with inpatient and outpatient community referrals for MRI, CT, ultrasound, and other imaging modalities.

The technology was deployed at the following sites: Alex and Jo Campbell Centre for Health and Wellness, Campbell River Hospital, Chemainus Health Centre, Comox Valley Hospital, Cowichan District Hospital, Island Ultrasound, Lady Minto Hospital, Ladysmith Health Centre, Mill Bay Radiology Centre, Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, Oceanside Health Centre, Port Hardy Hospital, Royal Jubilee Hospital, Saanich Peninsula Hospital, Victoria General Hospital, and West Coast General Hospital.

“The implementation of Novari Medical Imaging Referral Management is an important step forward in how Island Health organizes and delivers access to medical imaging services. This work reflects the dedication of our teams and the value of strong partnership with Novari, advancing a more coordinated, visible, and consistent referral management process for providers, patients, and the broader health system,” said Sean Hardiman (pictured), PhD, executive director, clinical services delivery, Island Health.

The project involved tight integration with Island Health’s Oracle Health (Cerner) electronic health record system. In addition, the Novari system was integrated with the Intelerad Picture Archiving Communication System (PACS), leveraging the DICOM standard.

Novari technologies complement and integrate with many hospital information systems (HIS) (e.g., Epic, Meditech, Oracle Health, etc.), electronic medical record (EMR) systems (e.g., Accuro, etc.), PACS systems (e.g., AGFA, GE Healthcare, Philips, Intelerad, etc.) and others.

Novari MIRM provides clerical staff, administrators, radiology technologists, and radiologists with a comprehensive medical imaging requisition management solution that includes wait list management, digital protocolling, customized workflows, and robust department analytics.

The system’s workflow capabilities can be configured to accommodate unique workflows for each modality and eliminate risks and inefficiencies inherent in paper-based processes. Novari technology also includes available AI-enhanced analytics that provide real-time data on patient wait times, helping organizations enhance resource utilization, identify workflow bottlenecks, and improve operational efficiency.

The system also includes RadView™, an eProtocolling feature co-designed with Canadian radiologists to enable quick and efficient protocolling. The MIRM system is enhanced by enriched DICOM integration with PACS systems, enabling the uploading of relevant requisition documents and providing easy access for radiologists and medical imaging technologists.

Healthcare systems around the world are struggling with human healthcare resources (HHR) shortages, aging populations, and ongoing financial pressures.

To help offset these challenges, Novari Health provides state-of-the-art referral management, central intake, and wait list management solutions. These systems streamline the management of wait lists for medical imaging, surgery, mental health, diabetes, and other clinical services that have experienced unprecedented backlogs in recent years.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that the Island Health implementation team’s success was due to their skills, focus, and dedication. They set aggressive timelines and achieved them to the benefit of the health system and most importantly, their patients,” said John Sinclair, CPHIMS-CA, president & CEO, Novari Health.

About Island Health
Island Health is responsible for delivering health and care services to a large population across Vancouver Island, the islands in the Salish Sea and the Johnstone Strait, and mainland communities north of Powell River. Its dedicated family consists of a diverse team of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurse practitioners, midwives, and dentists, along with volunteers, foundations, and auxiliaries. With numerous facilities and community locations, Island Health offers a wide range of health services, such as public health support, primary healthcare, home and community care, mental health and substance use services, and acute care in hospitals, among others, catering to the unique needs of a geographically diverse region.

About Novari Health
Novari Health, a VitalHub company, delivers cloud-based enterprise scale AI enabled referral management, central intake (single point of access), and wait list management software solutions that improve access to care, while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare organizations. Leveraging HL7, FHIR, DICOM, and other international standards, our technologies complement and integrate with a wide variety of healthcare systems (e.g., HIS, eReferral, PACS, etc.). With clients in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, Novari is one of the most trusted digital health solution providers. ISO 27001, SOC 2, and Cyber Essentials Plus certified, Novari Health is a Microsoft Partner, with software solutions hosted on Microsoft Azure’s global network of data centres.

About VitalHub
VitalHub is a leading software company dedicated to empowering health and human services providers globally. VitalHub’s comprehensive product suite includes electronic health records, operational intelligence, and workforce automation solutions that serve over 1,300 clients across the UK, Canada, and other geographies. The Company has a robust two-pronged growth strategy, targeting organic opportunities within its product suite and pursuing an aggressive M&A plan. VitalHub is headquartered in Toronto with over 700 employees globally, across key regions and the VitalHub Innovations Lab in Sri Lanka.