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Health Report Manager (HRM®) Preference Management Expansion

Information for Participants

OntarioMD (OMD) is committed to reducing your administrative burden and improving your experience with HRM. To reduce the number of reports delivered to your EMR, we are pleased to offer HRM users the opportunity to participate in the eNotification opt-out initiative, a program to stop receiving eNotifications. The initiative supports the recommendations of the HRM Task Force to reduce report volumes. This initiative is limited to eNotifications and the lessons learned will help OMD assess the impact of opting out of receiving other report types in the future.

The eNotifications opt-out initiative will begin on Friday, December 6, 2024, and will run for approximately six months. eNotifications will deactivated during this period.

If you are interested in participating, please follow these steps: 

  1. Fill out the Expression of Interest Form to opt out of receiving eNotifications through HRM
    • Submit your name, license number, and email address to express your interest in participating.
    • Deadline to express interest: Thursday, November 21, 2024.
    • Applications received after November 21, will be placed on a waitlist for future eNotification opt-out initiatives.
  2. Watch for the Acknowledgment Form on November 22 
    • If you are among the first 250 applicants, you will receive an email from Jessica Sommerville via DocuSign on November 22.
    • This email will contain a link to the Acknowledgment Form, which you must complete and sign via DocuSign within one week - by Friday, November 29, 2024.
  3. Receive Confirmation of Participation
    • If your form is signed and submitted by November 29, you will receive a confirmation email on Monday, December 2, 2024.
  4. eNotifications Turned Off
    • eNotifications will be turned off for participants on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Please Note:
We will accept the first 250 applicants. Clinicians expressing interest beyond the 250 participant limit will be placed on a waitlist for future expansions.

Background 

HRM is a provincial digital health solution that electronically delivers patient health reports from hospitals and specialty clinics to community clinicians across Ontario.

Since 2014, HRM has also been delivering eNotifications, which are near real-time electronic alerts from participating hospitals that notify clinicians when:

  • A patient has been discharged from an emergency department, or
  • A patient has been admitted to or discharged from an in-patient unit.

These eNotifications appear in clinicians' EMR system just like other HRM reports. In addition to these alerts, clinicians continue to receive discharge summaries and other hospital reports, meaning they often receive both an eNotification and a discharge summary for the same patient event.

The HRM Task Force identified report volume as a significant pain point for clinicians, contributing to administrative burden and frustration. While eNotifications were designed to provide timely updates, some clinicians have expressed concerns about the added volume of reports, noting that the information in eNotifications may overlap with other reports they receive. Approximately 50% of surveyed clinicians indicated that they would opt out of eNotifications if given the option.

In July 2024, OntarioMD launched the first round of eNotifications Opt-Out, offering 110 clinicians the opportunity to manage their preferences for receiving eNotifications. The pilot was well-received, with participants reporting a reduction in report clutter and administrative burden. Due to the significant interest expressed in continuing this initiative, OMD is now offering a second round to provide more clinicians the chance to opt out of receiving eNotifications via HRM. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What exactly are eNotifications, and what are they not?

eNotifications are quick alerts notifying you of patient admissions, discharges, or transfers.
They are not: 

  • Discharge summaries
  • Consultation reports
  • Any other medical record or diagnostic imaging results 

The above reports will continue to be delivered to your EMR through HRM as usual, even if eNotifications are turned off. This initiative focuses only on deactivating eNotifications not other, more detailed clinical reports.

How do I know if I am currently receiving eNotifications?

If you are unsure whether you are currently receiving eNotifications, visit the OntarioMD Sending Facilities website. 

  • Search for your local hospital(s) on the list of sending facilities.
  • If your hospital has eNotifications turned on, this will be indicated by a green check in the rightmost column. This is a strong indication that you are likely receiving eNotifications from that hospital through HRM. 

Can I still receive eNotifications for specific patients or from specific hospitals during the pilot?

No. All eNotifications will be turned off for the duration of this initiative (for approximately six months), beginning Friday, December 6, 2024. This means that you will not receive any eNotifications for any patient from any hospital for the duration of the initiative.

Since I will no longer receive eNotifications in near real time, how long do I have to wait for the discharge summary?

When eNotifications are turned off, you will continue to receive discharge summaries as you normally would, typically within 24 to 48 hours after the patient's discharge. While eNotifications and discharge summaries may contain similar information, they are distinct report types. 

  • eNotifications provide a quick, real-time alert of a patient’s status change (e.g., admission or discharge). 
  • Discharge summaries offer a more detailed clinical report of the patient’s treatment and follow-up plan. 

May I opt out of participating in this initiative before it concludes, and receive eNotifications again?

No. Once you have agreed to participate, you cannot opt back into receiving eNotifications for approximately six months. After that period, you may request to opt back into receiving eNotifications. 

What are the participation requirements?

To participate, you will need to:

  1. Submit an Expression of Interest Form by November 21, 2024.
  2. Complete and sign a DocuSign acknowledgment form by November 29, 2024.
  3. Complete a brief feedback survey at the end of your participation to share your experience and insights. 

Is there an honorarium for participation?

While there is no honorarium for participating, you will have the benefit of being among the first clinicians in Ontario to experience a reduction in HRM reports that require your attention and contribute to your administrative burden. You will save time by no longer reviewing eNotifications. Your participation and feedback will also help us further improve HRM for you and your colleagues.

Where can I get more information about HRM?

More information is available on the HRM page of OntarioMD.ca.