digital health

Doctors of BC recognizes the vital role digital health plays in how doctors deliver health care and support patient health today and into the future. We support the improvement of digital health solutions in a way that ensures they are beneficial to physicians, user groups, patients, and the health system. And as the Ministry of Health moves its province-wide Digital Health Strategy forward, we commit to advocating for physician influence in shaping digital health planning and digital health solutions is a priority for Doctors of BC.

Doctors of BC Position: The increasing demand for access to data in physician electronic medical records (EMRs) is associated with risks and benefits of use of that data. Doctors of BC recommends that in order to mitigate risks and ensure public interests are protected, establishment of appropriate and collaborative governance is needed as it relates to the use of EMR data by external organizations for secondary purposes.

Doctors of BC Position: In response to the Ministry of Health’s paper: Enabling Effective, Quality Population and Patient-Centred Care: A Provincial Strategy for Health Information Management and Technology, Doctors of BC carried out extensive consultation with its members. Two themes emerged from the consultation, it’s important to prioritize health information exchange and patient-centred care must come after the foundations for IM/IT are laid.