ATHABASCA — Athabasca, Barrhead, and Westlock residents can now book appointments and access health information such as medications and test results through a newly launched online patient portal.
Connect Care rolled out Nov. 5 at facilities in the North Zone, including Athabasca, Barrhead, Boyle, Lac La Biche, Wabasca, Westlock, and Smoky Lake. In an Oct. 27 press release, AHS stated patient wait times may be longer in the days leading up to and following the launch of the portal as staff adjust to the new system.
“Patients at launch sites may notice a few differences, such as seeing their providers using more computers and handheld devices instead of paper charts to keep track of their care. We ask for your patience as our teams’ transition to this new way of working which will provide better care for you,” read the release.
According to a video on their website, AHS uses more than 1,300 systems for collecting and storing patient information, with the goal of creating “seamless” care across different facilities, services, and health care providers.
“Anything that can lead to better patient access and information on their health is a good thing,” said Neil Cameron, community pharmacist and owner of Athabasca’s Value Drug Mart. “Being able to maybe steer the system easier or make better choices in health, that’s a good thing.”
The program has already been rolled out in six zones across the province, having been launched first in the Edmonton Zone in November 2019. But for healthcare providers outside of AHS, Cameron said the implementation of the patient portal might not be as widespread as some might think.
“When AHS is talking about healthcare providers, they’re usually very AHS-centric,” he said. “Sometimes when the public hears the word ‘healthcare provider,’ it’s a much broader scope that is envisioned.
“What you would call conciliary healthcare providers are often forgotten about, which includes us at the community pharmacy level,” said Cameron. Other conciliary healthcare providers include chiropractors, physiotherapists, optometrists, and dentists.
Connect Care has been rolled out in pharmacy sites across zones where the portal has previously launched, such as Edmonton and Calgary, but Cameron said it’s unclear whether private pharmacies will be expected to make the switch, as well as when and at what cost.
“We don’t operate within AHS, (and) we’re not allocated any of the budgets for software, hardware upgrades that are almost always required just to get the latest and greatest processing power,” said Cameron. “I don’t have a year to learn a software system, or to have the luxury of having someone else come in and train me or my staff.”
Although he voices some hesitation about the unknowns of the new patient portal, Cameron remains cautiously optimistic about the future of Connect Care.
“Past experience doesn’t dictate future experience, but it does weather you a bit,” he said. “I would hope to be pleasantly surprised that it would streamline our work versus making it more difficult.”
Kim Lewis, seniors' advocate for Athabasca County's Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) also voiced reservations about how the new system may impact the region's older demographic.
"To my knowledge, probably half, or maybe better than half, of seniors are not comfortable accessing their medical information online," said Lewis. "My biggest beef with online stuff is that lots of people aren't set up to do online (healthcare), and lots of seniors in particular, or vulnerable adults."
Lewis cited lack of internet connection, lack of close family to assist with technical literacy, and symptoms of aging such as arthritis as potential deterring factors to aging residents adopting healthcare services through an online patient portal.
"Older adults ... can call our office and you can actually talk to a person that will book the appointment for you," Lewis offered for any regular clients of the seniors' advocate, or other aging residents.
Patients over the age of 14 receiving care at AHS facilities with Connect Care are eligible to register for the service. For more information on the portal, visit the Alberta Health Services website.
