Rollout of electronic medical records system delayed until December

The implementation of Nova Scotia’s new $365-million electronic medical records system, known as One Person One Record (OPOR), is facing a delay until December. In a recent memo to staff, Dr. Nicole Boutilier, executive vice-president of medicine for Nova Scotia Health, explained that officials have been re-evaluating the progress of the clinical information system. While the design and build of the new system are set to be completed this summer, the rollout date has been pushed back.

OPOR is intended to provide health-care professionals across the province with real-time access to a patient’s information within the acute-care system. Initially, the system was set to go live at the IWK Health Centre by the end of August, followed by a second wave at five additional hospital sites in November. However, the first site to use the system will now be the IWK, with a new start date of December 6.

The delay in the rollout has not been explicitly explained by officials, who have declined interview requests. Despite the setback, the budget for the project remains unchanged, and the province has yet to disclose operating costs. The decision to delay the launch dates will impact the overall timeline for implementation, as officials work to determine the revised plan for Nova Scotia Health sites and zones.

Once fully implemented, OPOR will replace or connect over 80 existing systems that health-care professionals use to access and record patient information. Currently, professionals must navigate an average of five systems to obtain a comprehensive view of a patient’s health data. The delay in the rollout is aimed at allowing for additional training and preparation time to ensure a successful implementation.

Dr. Shelly McNeil, president-elect of Doctors Nova Scotia, acknowledged that delays in a project of this magnitude are not uncommon. She emphasized the importance of getting the implementation of OPOR right, as it will be foundational to improving patient care. While meeting timelines is desirable, ensuring a well-executed implementation is paramount for the success of the new electronic medical records system.