Electronic Health Record (SHARE)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Electronic Health Record?

An electronic health record (EHR) is a secure and private lifetime record of an individual's health and care history, available electronically to authorized healthcare providers.

In Nova Scotia, the EHR system, known as SHARE (Secure Health Access Record), creates a single, integrated record from patient information contained in a number of electronic healthcare information systems, such as those in hospitals and other diagnostic and treatment centres.

For more information about electronic health records, visit the knowingisbetter site, created by Canada Health infoway, the federally funded not-for-profit organization that provides financial and other support to provinces in developing electronic health systems.

What information will SHARE maintain about me?

Initially, SHARE will include the following information:

• Hospital admissions and discharge information
• Lab results
• Diagnostic imaging results in text form, and a link to the images
• Select electronic clinical reports, such as discharge summaries, history and physicals, and consulting notes.

SHARE will capture this information from the day the system is implemented. Historical information about hospital visits and diagnostic testing before SHARE is implemented will not be included in the system.

What information will SHARE maintain in the long term?

Future phases of SHARE will expand both the number and disciplines of healthcare providers who use SHARE, and the information that is shared; such as community pharmacists sharing information on prescription medication. Other health services that will eventually be part of the system include public health, primary healthcare, cancer care, and addiction services.

What protections are on the system?

There are several levels of protection to assure patient information remains confidential. These include:

• Assignment of user name and password to all authorized users
• Confidentiality agreements signed by authorized users
• Auditing of user access
• Privacy training to reinforce appropriate use of the system
• Firewalls, anti-virus software, and system design to control access to patient information
• Monitored and restricted access to computer servers.

Will I be able to access my own files?

Not directly. Initially, SHARE will focus on providing healthcare providers - including your family doctor - with access to assure the best information on which to base patient care decisions. Patients will continue to have access to their files upon request to their family doctor or the hospital where they were treated.

How much will SHARE cost?

The approved budget for the first phase of SHARE is $28 million. Canada Health Infoway has contributed $17.8 million, with the rest coming from the government of Nova Scotia.