Canada Health Infoway
Inforoute Santé du Canada

British Columbia’s integrated peer-to-peer network leverages the province’s Physician Information Technology Office (PITO) EMR program.

59 peer leaders including community of practice, local physician champions and medical office assistants, share ideas and learnings on EMR implementation through online collaboration tools, in-person meetings, and other activities.

Contact: Physician Information Technology Office

Alberta’s Physician Office System Program enables the use of EMRs by physicians, who provide insured services in Alberta, to improve patient care and support best practice care delivery within the province’s electronic health environment.

The interdisciplinary peer-to-peer network consists of 73 peer leaders representing primary care physicians, specialists, clinic managers and project coordinators with recruitment of nurses and other clinic peer leaders underway.

Contact: Barbra McCaffrey, Learning and Peer Specialist, POSP

Saskatchewan’s peer-to-peer network is lead through the provincial Ministry of Health, Health Information Solution Centre (HISC). The network consists of health care professions who share information about implementation of EMRs and other EHR applications within their practice environment.

The network currently consists of 20 physicians, nurses and pharmacists that are actively engaged with the health care community.

Contact: Ravi Bhatnagar, Program Director, Saskatchewan Ministry of Health

Manitoba eHealth’s Peer-to-Peer Physician Network operates in collaboration with the Primary Care Information Systems office to promote the adoption and effective use of information systems by physicians and primary care providers.

The network is comprised of nine physician peer leaders who provide direct EMR mentorship services to Manitoba physicians. Physician peer leaders have been an active participant in the qualification and conformance testing of the province’s approved EMR vendors.

Manitoba’s Nursing Peer-to-Peer Network is comprised of five nurse peer leaders, who are from both rural and urban Regional Health Authorities. Together, they represent over 115 years of nursing experience, working in a variety of clinical settings and working with electronic clinical information systems.

Contact: Manitoba’s Nursing Peer-to-Peer Network.

Ontario’s peer-to-peer network consists of three discipline specific networks:

Physicians: The Ontario Peer-to-Peer Network for physicians is lead by OntarioMD. Peer leaders support their colleagues in EMR adoption by sharing best practices and lessons learned in the clinical setting.

Contact: Michelle Cerqua, Peer-to-Peer Network Project Manager, OntarioMD

Nurses: The Registered Nursing Association of Ontario (RNAO) leads the nurse peer-to-peer network to promote and foster awareness of, and involvement in EHR activities in the workplace. Peer leaders are broadening the reach of EHRs in the nursing community, within Ontario’s Local Health Integration Networks.

Contact: Jackie Boyce, International Affairs and BPG Administrative Assistant, RNAO

Pharmacists: The Ontario Pharmacists’ Association (OPA) is leading the Pharmacist Peer-to-Peer Program. As part of the initiative, four pharmacist peer leaders share their knowledge and expertise with Ontario pharmacists through a series of interactive web-based education programs designed by OPA.

Contact: Ontario Pharmacists’ Association

Quebec’s interdisciplinary Peer Support and Validation Network consists of physicians, nurses and pharmacists focused on the promotion of the province’s EHR initiative.

Contact: Infoway’s Peer Network Administrators

The Centre for Health Information led the Newfoundland and Labrador Peer-to-Peer Network to facilitate the sharing of EHR solution experiences among clinicians and their peers.

The interdisciplinary network included physician, nurse and pharmacist peer leaders who worked with their colleagues throughout the province to promote and support the adoption and integration of information technology into regular work processes. Peer leaders have engaged their colleagues in regional workshops throughout the province.

The network is currently on hiatus, however, peer leaders continue to be engaged in provincial EHR projects.

Contact: Tom Alteen, Project Manager, The Centre for Health Information

Nova Scotia’s EMR Peer Network is designed to leverage the province’s Primary Healthcare Information Management Program (PHIM).

The integrated network consists of physician, nurse and practice staff peer leaders who conduct community peer sessions, online training and one-to-one mentoring.

Contact: Kelcy Benedict, NS EMR Peer Network Coordinator, PHIM

New Brunswick’s interdisciplinary peer network aims to provide a defined structure and opportunity to support health providers in the engagement and use of an EHR solution within the practice setting.

The network is currently in development set to launch in Fall 2010. Peer leaders will be active in the province to accelerate awareness, early adoption and integration of information technology into regular work processes to improve access, quality and productivity.

Contact: One Patient One Record

Prince Edward Island’s interdisciplinary peer-to-peer network aims to support clinicians in EHR implementation activities along the adoption continuum.

Peer leaders are now working in the province to communicate and promote best practices and lessons learned for health care technology solutions.

Contact: Marilyn Barrett, Implementation Manager, PEI Department of Health