Drug Information Systems
Canada Health Infoway’s Drug Information Systems (DIS) investment program supports jurisdictional projects that will result in interoperable systems that enable authorized health care providers to access, manage, share and safeguard patients’ medication histories.
For each prescription, a DIS will check for allergy alerts and drug-to-drug interactions against a complete medication profile. These systems will dramatically reduce the number of adverse drug reactions by providing physicians and pharmacists with information to support appropriate and accurate prescribing and dispensing.
How will Canadians benefit?
- Authorized health care providers will gain access to a patient’s secure and complete medication profile, as well as decision support tools to assist in achieving significant improvements in patient safety.
- Patients will suffer fewer adverse drug events, and reduced mortality.
- Health system costs will be lowered thanks to fewer physician visits, hospitalizations and long-term care placements related to drug complications.
Success stories
Find out how the Drug Information Systems investment program is already improving the lives of Canadians:
Drug Information System in PEI
PEI is one of the first provinces in Canada to introduce a Drug Information System that keeps track of prescription drug records. Watch the video.
Visit the EHR Progress Map to read about specific Drug Information Systems projects being developed in Canada.