The COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an expansion of virtual care options, improving access to care for many Canadians. But Canada continues to lag behind in the collection and use of health care data, according to a new report and survey from the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). Health data has the power to transform care for both patients and providers — increasing access to medical records, helping patients monitor their own health and even reducing wait times.
Here’s what you may not know.
1. The majority of Canadians can’t access information about their own health.
Fewer than 40% of Canadians report accessing their health data electronically. There are specific situations where patients can access their own health data — for example, a patient portal to access lab results — but much of Canada’s current privacy legislation doesn’t meet the requirements of the digital age.
2. A majority of doctors can’t share your health data with other physicians and care teams, either.
Ever wonder why you have to repeat your concerns at every new health care encounter? Only 29% of physicians report sharing health data outside their practice. But respondents say they needed external information for about half (52%) of their patients in the past 12 months. This is due to a lack of connectivity between electronic systems in clinics, hospitals and other jurisdictions as well as inadequate data privacy legislation.
Read more about how Canadian physicians use digital tools in their practices
3. A lot of your health data is stored on outdated systems to begin with.
The fax machines are a hint: Almost all physicians (96%) report barriers to accessing, using or getting full value from digital health technologies. Most existing charting systems are outdated, preventing automation, explains a recent report from the Public Policy Forum. More than half of doctors say they require multiple log-ins to access different systems, and 40% say they are plagued by duplicative information.
Learn about the CMA’s work to reduce admin burden
4. Barriers to health information are burning doctors out when we need them most.
All these barriers to patient data make it hard — and slow — to find critical information needed to care for patients and ensuring no harm comes to them. That adds to physicians’ overwhelming administrative burden, and according to the CMA’s 2021 National Physician Health Survey, nearly 60% of physicians say administrative burden directly contributes to their worsening mental health. Three-quarters say this burden also hinders patient care.
How the Health care Unburdened Grant Program is reducing admin burden
5. Health data — or lack thereof — impacts patient safety and quality of care.
The inability for providers to assemble all relevant patient information can have a significant impact on the safety and the quality of care. It’s especially problematic when patients are seeing multiple providers or having diagnostic tests in multiple facilities. Critical patient information may not be available when needed, leading to potential medical errors and compromised patient safety. Clinicians experience this every day and while workarounds can minimize it, errors can and will be made.
Data matters: What we don’t know about health data in Canada
Sources: 2024 National Survey of Canadian Physicians; Digital health interoperability task force report