Webpaper 04

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Vol. 106 No. 4

THURSDAY, JANUARY Y 22, 2014

Box 40, 122 Main Street, Biggar, Saskatchewan S0K 0M0

email: tip@sasktel.net

20 pages

Phone: 306-948-3344

$1.25

www.biggarindependent.ca

Respiratory illness in Biggar Heartland Health has issued an influenza advisory for residents visiting health facilities in the region.

A ‘Peculiar Family’ set for NCCP 2015 offering . . . New Creation Community Players director Jennifer Crane, right, takes cast and crew through the initial steps of their upcoming musical comedy, “The Addams Family

Biggar, Outlook, Dinsmore and Kyle facilities have been affected this season. The most recent outbreak, which occurred in Kyle, was

lifted January 14. All have been due to the Influenza A virus. There are many health facilities and communities across the

Musical”. The comically creepy, macabre musical is set to run at the Majestic Theatre this March 19-22. Tickets will be on sale February 9. (Independent Photos by Kevin Brautigam)

province that are currently experiencing respiratory illness outbreaks, again, mostly due to the influenza virus. Dr. David Torr, Consulting Medical Health Officer for Heartland, stated that as of now there are no active outbreaks in the region’s facilities. He added that people should still take precautions to avoid spreading the virus. C o m m u n i t y immunization rates for influenza remain at around 30 per cent. Dr. Torr advises that people not visit health facilities if they are sick unless they require medical attention. “If you are visiting and are not sick, please put on a mask if you have not had your influenza immunization,” a January 15 Heartland Health Region news release stated. “Immunization is still

available through your local public health office, and we are still very much in the influenza season, so you are advised to get your influenza immunization if you have not already done so.” The release also added that it is very important people should remain vigilant in preventing infections in health facilities and communities, including ensuring optimal infection control practices like: • If you are ill, stay at home, contact your doctor if symptoms are severe. • Cover your cough. • Get immunized. • Wa s h y o u r h a n d s thoroughly, properly and frequently, particularly before and after patient/ client care, washroom use, blowing your nose, and after touching surfaces.

CORRECTION: Last week’s Independent story on the armed robbery in Biggar had an omission. The story indicated that a “lone employee” was robbed at knife point. In fact, the store in question had several staff on at the time of the incident.

Core electronic health record for Saskatchewan complete A comprehensive provincial electronic health record (EHR) for Saskatchewan residents is complete. Health providers with access to the EHR Viewer can now see their patients’ diagnostic imaging results, completing the core components of an EHR for Saskatchewan residents. The EHR Viewer is a secure Web site developed for Saskatchewan health care providers to give access to patient information regardless of where an individual goes for care or where they live in the province. “The EHR Viewer will allow seamless sharing of health information, something residents and providers told us we needed to better coordinate patients’ health care,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “Patients benefit when their providers have timely access to information when making health care decisions.” The EHR Viewer also includes access to:

• patient prescription and allergy information from community pharmacies; • more than 90 per cent of laboratory results from health regions and the Saskatchewan Disease Control Laboratory; • immunization histories; • supports to help physicians better manage their patients with chronic disease, including diabetes and coronary artery disease; • standardized operative reporting for breast cancer surgeries; • hospital admission, discharge and transfer summaries, providing family physicians with valuable patient information; and • discharge summaries from hospitals in the Saskatoon Health Region, allowing doctors to view the instructions their patients receive following release from hospital. “We are pleased with this achievement and will continue to work with our partners to expand the patient information that is available in the EHR,”

eHealth CEO Susan Antosh said. “We want to thank our many partners for their collaboration and dedication in reaching this key milestone which better supports Saskatchewan patients.” About 3,300 health care providers have access to the EHR Viewer, including physicians, pharmacists, and nurse practitioners. “ S a s k a t ch e wa n h a s clearly demonstrated its commitment to transforming health care for its residents by ensuring vital patient information is available in a timely and secure manner when and where it matters most,” Canada Health Infoway President and CEO Michael Green said. The EHR project cost $32.5 million in total with approximately 75 per cent of the funding contributed by Canada Health Infoway. The Government of Saskatchewan contributed the remaining $10 million. An additional $39 million was spent on the development of additional components

(provider registry, client r e g i s t r y, p h a r m a c y, diagnostic imaging) that were necessary to have the information available to distribute using the EHR. Of this, $31 million was funded by Canada Health Infoway, while the province funded $8 million. The privacy and

security of personal health information is a high priority for eHealth S a s k a t ch e wa n a n d a variety of safeguards are in place. Patients who are concerned about access to their personal health information can request their information be masked and only be

viewed with patient authorization. eHealth Saskatchewan is responsible for planning, developing and implementing the provincial electronic health record for Saskatchewan. eHealth is also responsible for Vital Statistics and Health Registries.

Littlest Nats put on big show . . . An Initiation National puck-carrier negotiates past the Wilkie Outlaw opposition at the Jubilee Stadium, Saturday. The pint-sized Nats recorded an entertaining 11-7 victory. (Independent Photo by Kevin Brautigam)


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