Electronic Health Record (SHARE)

Benefits of SHARE

SHARE will improve the delivery and quality of patient care in Nova Scotia by creating a single electronic health record for each resident of the province and others who have received care here.

It will make patient health records available to authorized healthcare professionals in all parts of Nova Scotia. No matter where a patient is being treated, professionals such as emergency room doctors or clinical specialists will have access to the patient's history, and results of recent diagnostic tests. This will allow for faster, more reliable diagnosis and treatment by the attending healthcare professionals. It will also help reduce the need for duplication of tests and, as a result, will help manage wait times.

SHARE will allow for the sharing of patients' clinical information within the province. That sharing will be secure and will maintain patients' privacy. SHARE will help healthcare workers make better decisions about care by giving them a lifetime view of a patient's key health history and care, including physician visits, hospitalizations, diagnostic images and reports, laboratory test results, prescribed drugs, and immunizations.

Healthcare providers will benefit by being able to provide better care to their patients because they have access to more of the patient's health care history. For example, if a patient in an emergency room can't tell the physician about her health, the physician will be able to get that vital health information through the electronic health record.

Taxpayers will see the costs associated with unnecessary tests and misdiagnosis redirected to other, more beneficial ways of providing health care. As well, health care will be provided in a more efficient way, with information being provided when and where the health care provider needs it.

Health system administrators will see greater efficiency in the system, and better delivery of health care. The health system will become more sustainable overall, and more accountable.