February 5, 2009

New lab connection improves patient care at Renfrew Victoria Hospital

Renfrew Victoria Hospital has established a new, secure information link with The Ottawa Hospital to improve laboratory services for patients.

With the new electronic connection, lab results for Renfrew patients are instantly available on their unit at RVH as soon as the analysis is done in Ottawa.

On January 22, the first test results were received in real-time from the centre 100 kilometres away.

“We were so happy,” comments RVH Lab Supervisor Len Burger, “It’s been a huge project, and we had received our first live sample report.”

Since then, more than 250 reports have come through the system. With an average of 10 tests sent out for analysis each day of the week, at least 3,500 readings each year will be expedited by the new technology.

The connection cuts the response time for patient tests by more than half. Before it was in place, a 48-hour wait for biochemistry or hematology results was routine. Results had to be printed in Ottawa and then mailed or delivered by courier to Renfrew. Time was also required to copy and deliver those results from the RVH lab to the point of care. Now, the information from Ottawa is instantly available in the RVH lab’s computer records and printed out at the same time on the unit where the patient is receiving care.

There are many positive impacts on patient care. Changes in care based on the lab results can be implemented faster. Patients may also be discharged sooner, if the results confirm that the established course of treatment is appropriate. The direct electronic communication link also reduces the potential for error, because staff will no longer have to scan documents or write data into charts. Records are also less likely to be lost or delayed in transit.

The accomplishment follows months of planning and testing of the system. Daily teleconference meetings between Ottawa and Renfrew led up to the implementation, and lab staff worked for three months to make sure the two information systems were compatible and all of the terminology was harmonized. Ensuring the security of patient information was also a key priority.

RVH is the third centre to link with The Eastern Ontario Regonal Laboratory (EORLA) Ottawa Hospital laboratory. There are other centres in the Champlain Local Health Integration Network that will follow.

“RVH was the first project to come in ahead of schedule,” comments Dr. Peter Bunting of The Ottawa Hospital. He credits “a good, solid dedicated team” that includes Burger and Chris Campbell in the RVH lab, Peter Payton of the RVH information technology department, and Dr. Sherry Perkins, the division head of biochemistry at The Ottawa Hospital.

Burger says this link is the first step in developing a fully integrated lab information system. The lab services in microbiology, pathology and transfusion medicine will follow, and are expected to be on-line in the next few years. Bunting adds that the ultimate goal is to have all patient test results securely available to caregivers throughout the province, providing a seamless health care system.

“It’s a very big step forward,” he concludes.

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(For more information contact Randy Penney, CEO,
Renfrew Victoria Hospital, 613-432-4851, ext. 260.)