Durham Region – Lakeridge Health is proud to announce the achievement of the prestigious Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Electronic Medical Record Adoption Model (EMRAM) Stage 6 certification. This accomplishment underscores Lakeridge Health’s commitment to improving patient care through the advancement of digital health and effective use of health information technology.
“What a proud moment for Lakeridge Health,” said Dr. Ilan Lenga, Chief Information Officer and Regional Chief Medical Information Officer, Central East Ontario Clinical Information System. “The HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification is a testament to Lakeridge Health’s ongoing commitment to improving patient outcomes using innovative health technologies. By reaching Stage 6, we have strengthened Lakeridge Health’s ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered care, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure that we’re continually improving our care delivery processes.”
HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification recognizes health-care organizations globally that have demonstrated significant progress in the adoption and utilization of electronic medical records (EMR) and other health IT tools. HIMSS EMRAM is a widely recognized model that helps hospitals and healthcare organizations assess their progress in health IT adoption and utilization. Hospitals that achieve this stage have implemented advanced EMR systems that enhance clinical decision-making, streamline workflows, and ensure patient data is accessible and secure. Lakeridge Health joins a select group of Ontario hospitals to achieve this designation.
For patients, access to MyChart ensures that they have an active role in their own care and empowers patients and families to monitor their own health, while contributing data.
“This achievement marks a significant win for patients and acknowledges the transformative shift for our clinical teams,” said Dr. Larry Nijmeh, Emergency Physician and Lakeridge’s Chief Medical Information Officer. “This certification confirms our access to external clinical notes, results and images that contribute to more complete patient histories. This access helps avoid redundant tests and procedures.
HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 certification signifies that Lakeridge Health has successfully met rigorous criteria in areas such as clinical decision support, CPOE (Computerized Provider Order Entry), and data sharing across departments and the province. This achievement also highlights the hospital’s ongoing commitment to patient safety and improved healthcare outcomes through the integration of cutting-edge technologies and advanced data analytics
“I’d like to congratulate our teams for their tremendous effort,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “Achieving HIMSS EMRAM Stage 6 is an important milestone, but we know the work doesn’t stop here. We’re committed to continual improvement and leveraging technology to better serve our patients and our growing Durham Region communities.”
Lakeridge Health will continue to focus on enhancing its health IT systems, with plans to pursue further advancements to achieve HIMSS EMRAM Stage 7, the highest level of certification. In January, Lakeridge Health became the first health-care system in Canada to earn both the prestigious ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification – the global gold standards for information security management and privacy information management systems.
Most recently, Lakeridge Health joined seven acute care hospitals in Central East Ontario to integrate PrescribeIT®, Canada’s national e-prescribing service, into a shared single instance as part of its Epic electronic Clinical Information System. This initiative, when live, will empower over 4100 prescribers across the collective to securely and efficiently transmit electronic prescriptions to patients' pharmacies of choice, enhancing the safety and quality of medication management.
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About Lakeridge Health
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, more than 20 community health-care locations and a state-of-the-art surgical centre within the Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.
Lakeridge Health is also home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, eye care, thoracic, gynecology oncology and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, and provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
Lakeridge Health is redefining the future of health care through transformative research, dynamic academic partnerships, and groundbreaking clinical trials. With over 140 active studies, we’re at the forefront of advancing medical knowledge, expanding treatment options, and improving the lives of our patients. Our one-of-a-kind Queen's-Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program is on the leading edge of training the next generation of primary care doctors. Each year, over 3,000 students and trainees are supported by the Lakeridge Health Education and Research Network (LHEARN). Through our innovative collaboration with Ontario Tech University, we’re also harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize patient care. Together with our academic, community, and industry partners, Lakeridge Health is tackling the toughest health challenges and elevating the quality of care for the communities we serve.
Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of nearly 9,000 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is a proud member of the Durham Ontario Health Team (Durham OHT) and works in collaboration with the Durham OHT, as well as primary care, and community and government partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.
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