PROJECT SCOPE OVERVIEW

• Client Corporate Headquarters: Alberta, Canada
• Facilities: Over 800
• Number of Employees: 120,000
• Number of patients: 4.5M

RESULTS

• EHR gives holistic real-time view of patient data from any location across entire system and resolved previous challenges with siloed systems.
• Seamless test ordering and clinical progress tracking.
• 50% reduction in medication-related patient safety incidents.
• 70% reduction in reliance on transcription services.
• 5% cost reduction due to prevention of duplicate diagnostic lab tests.
• Increased workflow efficiency and reduced documentation time reported by HCPs and administrative staff.
• Cultivated a robust training culture to empower staff and embrace technological potential.

 

Alberta Health Systems (AHS) faced challenges that included fragmented data sharing and management, poor coordination of care pathways across departments and hospitals, and multiple legacy solutions with over 2,000 active total applications. The health system strategized to digitally transform and revolutionize its healthcare ecosystem within five years to enhance patient care, streamline workflow processes, and improve overall operational efficiency.

To do this, AHS needed to reduce the number of active applications and standardize clinical dashboards and workflows to create a cohesive digital platform. AHS launched the Connect Care project in 2019 with the aim of revolutionizing information exchange between individuals and healthcare providers throughout the entire province, which had more than 800 facilities.

AHS chose to procure Epic’s EHR for the digital transformation project. To ensure a successful launch, AHS also partnered with Healthtech, a Nordic Global Company, for advisory and training support due to its extensive expertise in assisting providers with successful Epic implementations.

Early collaboration with stakeholders, including clinicians and IT professionals, was fundamental to the project. Governance arrangements were underpinned by a team with clinical and design expertise to manage the flow of EHR improvement. AHS also recognized that effective training and communication were instrumental in shifting the perception of EHR implementation from being solely an IT project to a collective effort of the entire system.

The phased implementation approach, involving nine launch cycles every six months across various care domains, equipped staff with the necessary skills and knowledge to embrace the new change with confidence. Results have shown significant outcomes, including a 50% reduction in medication-related patient safety incidents, a 70% reduction in reliance on transcription services, and a 5% cost reduction through the prevention of duplicate diagnostic lab tests.

The enterprise-wide EHR system has enabled digital convergence across the province and resolved AHS’ previous challenges with siloed systems. One of the most valuable aspects of a single solution is that staff only need to enter information once, which is then instantly visible across the entire system. As a result, HCPs and administrative staff have reported increased workflow efficiency, reduced documentation time, and improved overall user experience. The key to realizing the benefits of convergence has been creating common ways of working that drive shared benefits, including closely working with clinical leaders to ensure the benefits are truly meaningful for them.

Digital transformation success – Key takeaways of what worked

• Readiness assessments enable a clear understanding of goals from the outset and create the foundations for rollouts at scale.
• Standardization of clinical practice enables data to flow between clinical services, pathways, and the EHR.
• A sound governance structure that allows for timely decision-making at the right levels, in the right place, by the right people is key to effective change.
• Customized training and robust post-implementation support are non-negotiable to ensure quick and effective uptake of an EHR.
• The role-specific upskilling of staff across the AHS province led to significantly greater engagement in its change management program. Easy-to-digest learning materials, in-person sessions, online courses, and convenient refresher sessions can all be effective ways for people to learn. This empowers staff to use the solutions effectively, helping to increase operational efficiency, enhance patient care, and provide better regional collaboration.
• Creating a positive risk culture at the board level enables the right environment for encouraging change, innovation, growth, and resilience among front-line staff.
• Communication, engagement, and enthusiasm for the project are crucial to help gain people’s commitment to embracing change.
• Partnerships with strategic advisors who have proven understanding of the EHR system being deployed and extensive experience implementing large-scale programs of change can help mitigate costly mistakes and expedite the project life cycle.
• Working with an experienced partner enables ICSs to accelerate digital transformation, ensuring sustainability via training and knowledge-sharing during and after implementation.