Residents of the Canadian province of Alberta can now access two online healthcare resources launched by the province's Ministry of Health and Wellness. One provides information about diseases, medical conditions, and treatments, while the other provides wait times for diagnostic tests and surgical procedures.
The May 4 launch of the websites represents the implementation of the first phase of a $33 million personal health portal initiative. When the initiative is complete in 2015, the portal will give Albertans secure access to their personal health information through the province's electronic health record (EHR) system.
The disease information site, called MyHealth, incorporates nearly 9,000 health topics, including detailed descriptions of medical conditions and diseases, medications, tests and treatments, and recommendations for healthy living. Diagnostic imaging examinations are described by modality and type of exam.
There are five categories of CT exams and eight categories of MRI exams, for example. Each describes the exam and then explains why the exam is ordered, how to prepare for it, how the exam is performed, and what it feels like. Risks and results are also explained, as well as what conditions may affect the procedure or make a patient ineligible to have it.
Meanwhile, the Alberta Wait Times Reporting website shows wait time information for surgical procedures and diagnostic imaging exams as reported by Alberta specialists, diagnostic clinics, and hospitals. Wait times may be searched by procedure, specialist, and facility. The site also shows wait time trends over the most recent 13-month period for many procedures.
