Q.  Why is eHealth doing this survey?

We want Saskatchewan residents to have an opportunity to have a say in what they would most value in electronic health record services.  The information we receive from the public and from health care providers will help us prioritize activities for the coming years and inform a strategic plan for eHealth Saskatchewan.

Q. Do we have an electronic health record now? What sorts of health information is available now electronically?

We have three main “repositories” or “registries” in place already. These are some of the main building blocks for a comprehensive patient record.

• PIP – our pharmaceutical information program has 100% of the prescription drugs dispensed by community pharmacies
• SLLR – Saskatchewan Lab Results Repository – currently has 85% of all lab results in the province.
• The Diagnostic Imaging results repository is 80% complete which has things like CT scans, MRIs, X-rays or mammogram pictures.

This information is currently available to authorized healthcare providers like your doctor or in the case of PIP, your pharmacist.

The information within the repositories grows daily. For example:

• the diagnostic imaging database has more than 220 million images

There are 50,000 lab results added every day to the Saskatchewan lab results repository which now has more than 10 million test results in it.

Q. What privacy safeguards are there for my personal health information?

Your personal health information is confidential and eHealth Saskatchewan takes great care to protect your personal health information. Information is used or disclosed only as authorized or required by law. Privacy safeguards outlined in The Health Information Protection Act (HIPA) apply to information in the Saskatchewan Electronic Health Record (EHR). Only authorized health care providers involved in your care who have a “need-to-know” can view your personal health information.

Q. Is there a way of not allowing anyone to see my personal health information?

You have the option of requesting to have your personal health information “masked” in the Saskatchewan EHR so that it may not be seen by anyone, including your doctor or pharmacist, except with your express consent, in an emergency, or in other specific circumstances. You may also request a printout of who has viewed your personal health information in the Saskatchewan EHR. For more information, please contact the eHealth Privacy Service at 1-800-667-1672 or by email at PrivacyandAccess@eHealthsask.ca or visit http://www.health.gov.sk.ca/masking.