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August 2024 eTips Newsletter

Digital Health eTips 


Tips and advice on EMRs and digital health tools you can use NOW

From the CMO's Desk 

Don't Miss Next Month's OMD Educates: Digital Health In-Person Conference!

The event offers something for everyone – clinicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and clinic staff, and health system decision makers. Don't miss your chance to:

  • Network with colleagues.
  • Get 1:1 EMR support from OMD Peer Leaders, with free training workshops.
  • Learn practical tips and tricks to help your clinic and staff.
  • Hear expert advice from thought-provoking panels on topics such as AI scribes and cybersecurity.
  • Be inspired by guest speakers:
    • The Hon. Dr. Jane Philpott, former federal Minister of Health, current Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Director of the School of Medicine for Queen's University and bestselling author of Health for All: A Doctor's Prescription for A Healthier Canada.
    • Helen Angus, former provincial Deputy Minister of Health, current Chief Executive Officer at AMS Healthcare and distinguished fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy.
  • Join me for my session on how to minimize tech burnout while waiting for health system changes.

Register as a team or for one or both days! Hope to see you there!

Last Call for 2024 Luminary Award Nominations

Are you a digital health champion or know someone who is? Consider nominating your staff, colleagues, or even yourself for this year's Luminary Awards! Your stories inspire colleagues to embark on digital health projects to optimize their practices and enhance patient care. As your efforts have a greater impact than you know, OMD wants to recognize them with a token of our appreciation.

OMD in the News

OMD's thought leadership was featured in the Ontario Medical Review, with practical tips on choosing the right digital tool, using AI scribe or carving out a few precious minutes from your busy day. 

Tip from a Peer Leader 

OMD Peer Leaders comprise a network of over 60 physicians (family doctors and other specialists), nurse practitioners, nurses, and clinic managers. As expert users of OMD-certified EMRs and other digital health and virtual care tools, they work with our Advisory Service Team to help you with your EMR and digital workflows. Discover what our complimentary Peer Leader Program and Advisory Service can do for you. 

Using Ocean EMR to Secure Email and Virtual Consent from Patients

Watch the video from Dr. Sharon Domb on YouTube, a family physician in Toronto, to hear about how to get email and virtual consent from patients through your Ocean EMR.

Advice from the General Counsel and CPO 

Tips for Safeguarding Security and Data

As health information custodians, physicians have legal, ethical and professional obligations to protect personal health information (PHI). It's a daunting task in a virtual world, but there are precautions you can take.

Governance and training

  • Ensure you and your staff maintain security awareness by incorporating OMD's Privacy and Security Training modules in your annual training process. The modules are comprehensive, allow you to earn continuing professional development credits and best of all, they're free!
  • Establish proper clinic governance agreements.

Static safeguards

  • Regularly update software and hardware, including operating systems, antivirus software and firewalls.
  • Perform regular data back-ups and test the reliability of data restoration.
  • Use end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication protocols.
  • Clean out your inbox and empty trash routinely.

Privacy

  • Use unique passwords (or consider passphrases) and change them often.
  • Obtain express consent from patients, especially where AI is used.
  • Think before you click on links in emails and ensure you (and your staff) know phishing signs and risks.
  • Only use secure wireless networks (no public wi-fi).
  • Maintain electronic audit logs.

Adopting a security-first mindset in protecting patient data can help to build patient trust in family physicians and deepen their connection.

HRM Task Force Updates 

eNotifications Pilot in Progress

On July 27, 2024, OMD launched an HRM pilot with about 100 clinicians to assess the impact of reduced eNotifications on administrative workload and inbox management. The pilot will help to collect insights, facilitating longer-term HRM report preference management solutions, including allowing clinicians to opt out of eNotifications and COVaxON communications in future releases. The pilot has suppressed thousands of eNotifications so far and early feedback from participants is positive.

OMD Change Management & Adoption Services 

Still Using Paper MTO Forms? There’s a Better Way! 

With eForms, OMD is making form completion easier for you. eForms are digital forms that you can complete from the convenience of your EMR and submit electronically. Other forms that are available in your EMR are delivered through FAX to the recipient. With eForms, you no longer need to fax paper or digital forms, only to have them sent back because they are outdated or have incomplete information. There are 16 forms available from the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), with more on the way! 

Make form submission easier for yourself and request eForms today! 

Leverage Our Expertise to Meet Your OHT’s Digital Health Needs 

OMD is involved with Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) in every area of Ontario. We deliver digital tools to clinicians in all OHTs. We can support clinicians in your OHT with: 

  • Training and education  
  • Change management and adoption of existing or new digital health tools 
  • Preventive care and integrated care pathway projects 

Contact us at support@ontariomd.com to assist you to achieve your OHT’s goals. 

Digital Health Drug Repository (DHDR): A Valuable Item in Your Patient Care Toolkit 

It’s crucial for clinicians to know about the medications that patients are taking to avoid adverse drug events. DHDR provides up-to-date information on drugs dispensed to patients, which you can access seamlessly through your EMR. Join the many clinicians who have access to DHDR. (Please note: DHDR is still not available to TELUS Health EMR users. Please speak to TELUS Health if you are their client and want access to DHDR.) 

Contact support@ontariomd.com or your local OMD Advisor to connect DHDR to your EMR. 

OMD Education

We present at many events and conferences to engage with you, your staff and other health system stakeholders. View our events calendar for a complete list of conferences and webinars. Hope to see you at one of them!

Need Help with Your EMR? 

Your EMR should be a benefit, not a burden. If you need help, our OMD Advisory Service can assist you! We can help you use your EMR better to save you time and frustration. 

We are experts in all OMD-certified EMRs! Through our EMR Lab, we can develop tools and suggest helpful workflow improvements. 

Have you joined our EMR Communities of Practice (CoP)? CoP is a virtual place for EMR and digital health tool users, including clinicians and office staff, to come together and improve upon their knowledge, discover upcoming changes, ask questions and learn from colleagues. Find out more about OMD EMR Communities of Practice and join the CoP for your EMR! 

We can connect your EMR to drug information, eConsult, eForms, hospital reports, and lab results.  

If you prefer to talk to a peer, our Peer Leaders can also help you. Contact support@ontariomd.com, and help will soon be on the way! 

We can help you protect your patient data through our FREE CME-accredited online Privacy & Security training. 

Important Reminders 

Changing EMRs or Practices, Moving Your Practice? OMD Needs to Know!  

All EMR Users  

To help us provide the best support to optimize your EMR use, please notify OMD at support@ontariomd.com when switching to another EMR, moving offices or joining a different clinic. We also need to know if you have changed your email address or phone number. 

HRM Users 

If you’re moving, switching Internet providers, changing your Internet plan, or switching EMRs, your IP address may be changing and OMD needs to know! We need to update our records to make sure your EMR continues to receive patient reports through HRM. Please notify OMD at support@ontariomd.com a minimum of 7 business days in advance of the change with a complete change request and a valid IP address to ensure you don’t experience any service interruptions. 

Partner News 

Registration for Ontario Health's Secure Messaging Pilot Extended to October

Registration to participate in a two-year patient-to-physician Secure Messaging Proof-of-Concept pilot led by the province has been extended. With the pilot running until March 31, 2026, Ontario physicians may now register until October 31, 2024. More information is available in the Ministry of Health's INFOBulletin.

Evidence2Practice Ontario (E2P) COPD Tool Now Available for Accuro QHR and Telus PS Suite EMRs

E2P's COPD tool supports diagnosis, assists in initiating tailored maintenance therapy and helps clinicians connect patients to education and self-management strategies. Co-delivered by the Centre for Effective Practice, eHealth Centre of Excellence and North York General Hospital, E2P integrates the most up-to-date evidence and quality standards into primary care EMRs. All E2P tools are free and include Mainpro+ accredited change management and academic detailing with a trained pharmacist to optimize adoption and implementation. Learn more about the E2P COPD tool and supports.