Digital Health Strategy
The Department of Health and Wellness and Health PEI have developed a five-year Digital Health Strategy to improve the availability and use of health information to build a healthier tomorrow for Islanders and to invest in secure digital health technologies.
What is digital health?
Digital health refers to the use of information technology/electronic communication tools, services, and processes to deliver health care services or to facilitate better health. Digital health helps Canadians access better quality care more efficiently through solutions and services such as electronic medical records, tele homecare, virtual visits, and patient portals. To learn more about how digital health technologies can support you with managing your care, please visit this website: Canada Health Infoway
Digital health strategic goals
The following goals were developed as part of the five-year Digital Health Strategy. The strategy aligns with the Provincial Health Plan and outlines a plan to evolve how digital health technologies will support the health system.
Goal 1: Help people to manage and improve their health
Digital tools can offer residents additional avenues for care and empower them to better manage their health. Providing residents with digital access to their personal health information (e.g. vaccine history or lab reports) and health services (e.g. virtual care) can help to improve patient outcomes. Working on this goal will ensure the appropriate digital tools are available so residents can access these resources or services, if and when they need them.
Goal 2: Enable connected care across the health system
Connected care means health care providers can securely share and exchange information. This will ensure that information relevant to an individual’s care (e.g. your current medications, recent blood work) is accessible to those providing care.
Goal 3: Enhance the use of digital health tools
To realize the full benefits of our digital health investments, health care providers need access to modern technology and infrastructure. Work associated with this goal includes evaluating and optimizing our existing tools, setting priorities for improvements, and continuing to support providers to embed digital health tools (e.g. electronic medical records) into clinical practice.
Goal 4: Build the foundation for a data-driven Learning Health System
The journey to become a Learning Health System starts with building a solid foundation. Standardizing and enhancing our data processes and practices will ensure health information can be used to guide care and improve decision-making, our Island will see the benefits of a more effective and sustainable health system.
The goals and priorities of the strategy were developed in consultation with health care professionals, residents, provincial agencies and associations, and equity-deserving groups. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation will occur to ensure goals are reached over the next five years.