Bridging the Information Gap
By Lisa McPhee, Open Arms Content Writer | November 10, 2023
In today’s digital age, where technology plays a crucial role in transforming various aspects of our lives, healthcare is no exception. Alberta Health Services (AHS) has taken a significant leap forward by launching the 7th phase of Connect Care, a ground-breaking initiative that promises to revolutionize patient care by combining all patient information into one system. So, let’s delve further into what Connect Care is all about, its potential impact on patient care and the subsequent positive implications it holds for patient advocacy.
What is Connect Care?
Connect Care is a complete digital health record system used to streamline patient information and enhance communication among healthcare providers. Essentially, it’s a one-stop solution that gathers patient data, including medical history, prescriptions, test results, and treatment plans, into a secure electronic format accessible to authorized healthcare professionals. This centralized system ensures that important information is readily available, allowing for quicker and more informed decision-making.
Impact on Patient Care:
- Seamless Coordination: One of the largest benefits of Connect Care is its ability to facilitate seamless coordination among healthcare providers. With all relevant patient information accessible at their fingertips, doctors, nurses, and specialists can work together efficiently, ensuring the patient receives cohesive and well-coordinated care. This will in turn reduce the risk of miscommunications and ensures that everyone involved in the patient’s treatment is on the same page.
- Enhanced Patient Safety: Connect care significantly enhances patient safety by reducing the chances of medical errors. With accurate and up-to-date information readily available, healthcare providers can make fast and informed decisions about treatment options, allergies, and dosages. This will minimize the risk of adverse reactions and complications, leading to safer patient outcomes.
- Time Efficiency: Gone are the days of waiting for paper records to be transferred between departments. Connect Care streamlines this process, allowing healthcare professionals to access patient data instantaneously. This efficiency translates into faster diagnosis, timely interventions, and reduced waiting times. Ultimately, this will improve upon the overall patient experience.
Impact of Patient Advocacy:
- Empowering Patients: Connect Care empowers patients by giving them access to their own health information. Patients can now view their own medical records, treatment plans, as well as test results, enabling them to actively participate in their healthcare decisions. This transparency fosters a sense of ownership over one’s health, encouraging patients to ask questions, seek clarifications, and overall actively engage with their healthcare providers.
- Informed Decision-Making: Informed patients are better prepared to make decisions about their health. Connect Care equips patients with the knowledge they need to understand their conditions, treatment options and potential outcomes. By being readied with this information, patients can engage in meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers, actively participating in the decision-making process.
- Advocacy for Vulnerable Populations: Connect Care plays a vital role in advocating for vulnerable populations such as individuals with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and those with limited access to healthcare resources. By ensuring that accurate and thorough health records are easily accessible, Connect Care bridges the gap, providing the opportunity for all patients to obtain quality healthcare. This advocacy leads to improved health outcomes for disregarded communities.
In conclusion, the 7th successful launch of Connect Care within AHS marks a significant milestone in the evolution of patient care and advocacy. By utilizing the power of technology, Alberta Health Services created a system that not only enhances the efficiency of healthcare delivery but also empowers patient to actively participate in their health journey. As Connect Care continues to shape the future of healthcare in Alberta, it serves as a beacon of hope, promising a more informed, connected and patient-centric approach to healthcare delivery.
How can Open Arms Advocacy Help?
We advocate for a wide array of patient issues from emergency room care, senior care, women’s health, mental health, and acute care to medical fatalities. We help patients get a second opinion, find a physician, place a complaint, or access medical documents. Open Arms also helps families of patients with guidance, support, and resources to get the answers they require.
If you need a patient advocate, please contact us at advocacy@openarmsadvocacy.com or fill out our intake form.