Gone are the days of having to sign out x-rays to take to specialist appointments, and having records faxed from one office to another in order for all of your health care specialists to be able to see pertinent information about your test results and history. Thanks to the development of digital health, authorized health care providers are now able to quickly access your health information digitally to be able to make faster, well informed decisions when it comes to the care of both you and your loved ones.
Over the past few years you’ve likely noticed a change in your doctor’s office. Now instead of always looking through a paper file to see your latest results, such as x-ray reports and other information, they are now using a computer to access those same files digitally. Instead of having to wait for test results to be mailed or faxed to your doctor’s office, they have instant access, allowing you and your family to have a more timely service of care.
Many Canadians see more than one health care provider or specialist to manage their health. Digital health records now allow all of your health care teams to see your test results and history. This cuts out the need for unnecessary or duplicate testing, saving everyone involved both time and money. Digital health also allows ER workers the ability to see your history and previous test results, something they would only have had access to in the past if the tests had happened at that hospital. As someone who has spent their fair share of time in the ER, having staff who can access previous test results and relevant information in emergency situations makes a scary experience a little bit less scary. When you know the people who are caring for you or your loved ones and understand your medical history, it can really take a load of your shoulders. 
Besides in-office and emergency care, some health care providers now offer digital health tools such as e-visits (perfect for those who live in more remote areas or who have mobility issues), e-booking and e-prescription renewals. The last one is of particular interest to my family as my husband is on a medication he has to take for the rest of his life. At least once a year he has to get a doctor’s appointment just for his prescription renewal. Being able to request an e-prescription would save not only his time, but also his doctor’s. These types of services, as they become more mainstream, will undoubtedly help to shorten wait times and reduce the workload on our country’s health care providers. Obviously, not all prescriptions can be renewed without an evaluation and doctors visit, but being able to cut out those that can will shorten wait times for all.
Digital health is certainly the way of the future, and as it becomes more mainstream for patients to have access to some of their health records through secure portals, we can take a more active role in our own health. Not only that, it will also allow us the chance to ensure the information in our records is correct.
Have you ever played phone tag with your doctor’s office trying to find the results of a test or x-ray? A few years ago I slipped and fell up my steps (I’m amazingly accident prone) and smashed my forearm on not one, but two steps. I ended up having to go to the doctor, as we were worried I had broken the bone. It was a pretty nasty injury. I remember the x-ray technician even thought it was broken and took an extra x-ray to be sure he got all the possible break points in my forearm. Because I had gone to my doctor instead of the ER, I couldn’t get my results right then and there. I had to wait and contact my doctor afterwards. Had we had access to digital health records, it would have made it much easier as we could have found out on our own that I didn’t have a break (instead I badly bruised the bone and damaged the nerve in my arm) instead of spending hours playing phone tag trying to get the results. Having access to even the basic information can really empower you to feel more in control and help remove or reduce the fear associated with the waiting game.
November 16-22 is Digital Health Week, and I would like to encourage you all to spend a few minutes learning more about Digital Health and how it can benefit you and your family by visiting the Better Health Together website. You can also engage in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #ThinkDigitalHealth.
Question: Have you experienced the benefits of digital health? Do you know what digital health services your doctor(s) use or offer?
Disclosure: Although this post has been generously sponsored by Canada Health Infoway, the opinions and language are my own.