July 2024 eTips Newsletter

Tips and advice on EMRs and digital health tools you can use NOW

From the CMO's Desk 

Celebrating 20 Years of Digital Health Support for Clinicians: From EMRs to AI

Time passes quickly, doesn't it? Over the past 20 years, OntarioMD (OMD) has served family physicians, community specialists, nurse practitioners and their staff in adopting and using digital health technology. In that span, we've seen changes to improve the delivery of health care, from electronic medical records (EMRs) to the use of artificial intelligence (AI). We've seen challenges, specifically around physician administrative burden, but also experienced growth, with the expansion of virtual care and the integration of different tools in EMRs.

The increased appetite for digital health tools to address clinicians' needs has been the most exciting development. It's prompted us to expand the OMD Educates: Digital Health Conference this September to a two-day in-person event. As a reminder, early bird registration for the Vendor Showcase ends July 22 and early bird discount registration for attendees closes July 31.  

All in all, it's been an honour for OMD to support communities across Ontario to digitally optimize their practices over the last 20 years. We look forward to continuing to do so!

OMD AI News

Coming Soon: Results of AI Scribe Evaluation Study

The OMD-led AI scribe evaluation study ended last month. Together with our project partners, the eHealth Centre of Excellence (eCE) and Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care (WIHV), we thank all clinicians who contributed their valuable time to this initiative. A report, outlining the study's findings, will be shared in the August eTips newsletter. Don't miss it!

For more exciting AI news, read the recent article, "The Great AI Scribe Rollout" by The Medical Post.

Tip from a Peer Leader 

OMD Peer Leaders comprise a network of over 60 physicians (family doctors and other specialists), nurse practitioners, nurses, and clinic managers. As expert users of OMD-certified EMRs and other digital health and virtual care tools, they work with our Advisory Service Team to help you with your EMR and digital workflows. Discover what our complimentary Peer Leader Program and Advisory Service can do for you. 

Using Online Appointment Booking 

Watch the video from Dr. Stephen McLaren, a family physician in Markham, to hear about the different online booking options available, their associated costs, and how to incorporate them into your clinic workflow.

Advice from the General Counsel and CPO 

Privacy Tips for Virtual Care Appointments 

The COVID-19 pandemic spurred unprecedented interest in virtual health care, defined as live interactions with physicians using the telephone or audio or video teleconferencing apps. Ontario's health privacy law, the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA), applies to virtual care as it does to in-person care, so it's important to note the policies and expectations in place. Here are simple tips to help ensure privacy compliance during virtual visits:

• Book appointments as you would for in-person visits, whether patients call your reception or go online to secure them.
• Check in patients, whether they need to call reception prior to their appointment, log on to a secure portal, or click on a link sent via email or secure message. This also helps to verify patient identity.
• Use secure technology only. Avoid communication via texting, email, FaceTime or free versions of Zoom as they could expose you and your clinic to privacy breaches.
• Mind your background. Remember to consider what is visible on screen behind and around you to ensure your background is professional.

For information on legislative and consent requirements, take OMD's Virtual Care Privacy & Security Training Module and earn CME credits and certificates.

We also encourage you to review the guidance and best practices offered by Ontario Health. 

OMD Education 

The two-day in-person OMD Educates: Digital Health Conference is just two months away! Featuring a lineup of all-new topics and guest speakers, including keynote addresses by:

• Jimmy Yang, Managing Director, Canadian Health Industry Lead & Co-Chair, Global Health Strategy Council, Accenture (day one)
• The Hon. Jane Philpott, MD, former federal Minister of Health, current Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the School of Medicine for Queen's University (day two)

The event will be held in Toronto from September 12-13. Don't miss your chance to learn about digital health updates, earn Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits and mingle with colleagues, vendors and OMD staff. 

Early bird registration for the Vendor Showcase ends July 22 and early registration for attees closes July 31. Don't miss it!

OMD Digital Health Services

Update on Decommissioned Digital Health Tools 

On July 3, OMD stopped offering the Health Card Validation, eAgreements and EMR Progress Assessment tools on OntarioMD.ca. This is part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our website's services. Contact support@ontariomd.com or your local OMD Advisor with any questions you may have.

Call for 2024 Luminary Award Nominations

Are you a digital health champion or know someone who is? Consider nominating your staff, colleagues, or even yourself for this year's OMD Luminary Awards! 

HRM Task Force Updates 

eNotifications Pilot to Begin

On July 27, 2024, OMD will launch the HRM eNotifications pilot with a select group of clinician participants to assess the impact of reduced eNotifications on administrative workload and inbox management.

The pilot will help to collect insights on facilitating longer-term HRM report preference management solutions, including allowing clinicians to opt out of eNotifications and COVaxON communications. Stay tuned for more updates.

OMD Change Management & Adoption Services 

Still Using Paper MTO Forms? There’s a Better Way! 

With eForms, OMD is making form completion easier for you. eForms are digital forms that you can complete from the convenience of your EMR and submit electronically. Other forms that are available in your EMR are delivered through FAX to the recipient. With eForms, you no longer need to fax paper or digital forms, only to have them sent back because they are outdated or have incomplete information. There are 16 forms available from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), with more on the way! 

Make form submission easier for yourself and request eForms today! 

Leverage Our Expertise to Meet Your OHT’s Digital Health Needs 

OMD is involved with Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) in every area of Ontario. We deliver digital tools to clinicians in all OHTs. We can support clinicians in your OHT with: 

• Training and education  
• Change management and adoption of existing or new digital health tools 
• Preventive care and integrated care pathway projects 

Contact us at support@ontariomd.com to assist you to achieve your OHT’s goals. 

Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR): A Valuable Item in Your Patient Care Toolkit 

It’s crucial for clinicians to know about the medications that patients are taking to avoid adverse drug events. DHDR provides up-to-date information on drugs dispensed to patients, which you can access seamlessly through your EMR. Join the many clinicians who have access to DHDR. (Please note: DHDR is still not available to TELUS Health EMR users. Please speak to TELUS Health if you are their client and want access to DHDR.) 

Contact support@ontariomd.com or your local OMD Advisor to connect DHDR to your EMR. 

Need Help with Your EMR? 

Your EMR should be a benefit, not a burden. If you need help, our OMD Advisory Service can assist you! We can help you use your EMR better to save you time and frustration. 

We are experts in all OMD-certified EMRs! Through our EMR Lab, we can develop tools and suggest helpful workflow improvements. 

Have you joined our EMR Communities of Practice (CoP)? CoP is a virtual place for EMR and digital health tool users, including clinicians and office staff, to come together and improve upon their knowledge, discover upcoming changes, ask questions and learn from colleagues. Find out more about OMD EMR Communities of Practice and join the CoP for your EMR! 

We can connect your EMR to drug information, eConsult, eForms, hospital reports, and lab results.  

If you prefer to talk to a peer, our Peer Leaders can also help you. Contact support@ontariomd.com, and help will soon be on the way! 

We can help you protect your patient data through our FREE CME-accredited online Privacy & Security training. 

Important Reminders 

Changing EMRs or Practices, Moving Your Practice? OMD Needs to Know!  

All EMR Users  

To help us provide the best support to optimize your EMR use, please notify OMD at support@ontariomd.com when switching to another EMR, moving offices or joining a different clinic. We also need to know if you have changed your email address or phone number. 

HRM Users 

If you’re moving, switching Internet providers, changing your Internet plan, or switching EMRs, your IP address may be changing and OMD needs to know! We need to update our records to make sure your EMR continues to receive patient reports through HRM. Please notify OMD at support@ontariomd.com a minimum of 7 business days in advance of the change with a complete change request and a valid IP address to ensure you don’t experience any service interruptions. 

 Partner News 

Reminder: Ontario Health's Secure Messaging Pilot

There's still time for Ontario physicians to participate in a two-year patient-to-physician Secure Messaging Proof-of-Concept pilot led by the province. The pilot runs to March 31, 2026. The last date for physicians to register for participation is July 31, 2024. More information is available on the Ministry of Health website.