News Summary

Ontario is launching a new provincewide Primary Care Medical Record system aimed at integrating patient records and reducing paperwork for doctors, thereby improving the quality of care received by patients. This initiative is part of Ontario’s Primary Care Action Plan, which includes a funding increase to $3.4 billion from 2025 to 2029. The system will allow clinicians to securely access patients’ medical history, enhancing coordination across the health system and reducing delays caused by missing records. The new system addresses the current lack of interoperability among electronic medical records used by approximately 90% of Ontario family physicians. It promises to provide a more complete view of a patient’s health history, improving care quality and reducing costs associated with transferring medical records. The Ministry of Health is partnering with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board to ensure timely access to care for injured workers, supporting quicker recovery and return to work. The initiative is supported by digital healthcare company WELL Health, which intends to participate in the procurement process led by Supply Ontario.