e-Health -- the shift has begun

Blue Mountain, Ontario

Spring has arrived! This realization is based purely on the fact that the ski lifts are dormant and the Town has begun its 2012 mowing schedule in the park nearby.
I constantly have to remind myself that the seasons I love always appear ephemeral in nature (sorry -- I couldn't help myself) and that I should constantly seek to maximise my enjoyment of them.

What I believe is permanent, however, is explained in an article that was recently sent to me -- apparently, BC residents can now access their lab results on-line.
I can certainly understand if your response is a nonchalant "so what?", however, for me, this is huge because:

• nothing with such potential to inform will remain a secret for long -- it has to migrate to other Provinces in short order
• once us patients get a whiff of this, the next target has got to be all that paper-based data locked up in healthcare provider (HCP) offices and hospitals

Following patient lab tests, results are sent to the individual HCP who then sorts, records and evaluates to decide if a patient follow-up is necessary; this could take upwards of a week or two, a period of much anxiety for many.

Just imagine if you could access your results within a couple of days -- the afore-mentioned worry is considerably reduced and you'll be able to exercise your options as to whether you'd prefer to evaluate and research the results for yourself, or wait to discuss them with your HCP!

I wouldn't even try to delineate all the functionality that would be made possible by having patient access, but what I can categorically state is this:
although the speed of change will in all probability be evolutionary, on-line access to patient data has the potential to revolutionize the delivery of healthcare, Canada-wide.

So, as a resident of Ontario, I sure am looking forward to the day when I'll able to review my lab results as easily as checking the amount owing on my Canada Revenue Agency (income tax) account.
Hopefully I've piqued your interest!

Wishing you the best of health.


Ernest A. James

President & CEO
Regal Informatics Inc.