Request for expressions of interest issued for provincial diabetes registry

TORONTO – eHealth Ontario took a step forward today to enable improved care for Ontarians with diabetes with plans to create a Diabetes Registry for Ontarians. Diabetes is a common chronic disease. It is estimated that 900,000 Ontarians have diabetes – a number that continues to grow rapidly.

Infrastructure Ontario and eHealth Ontario invite companies to submit Expressions of Interest to develop a chronic disease management system that will initially be used to establish the Diabetes Registry.

The Diabetes Registry is an information system designed to track the delivery of Diabetes care according to evidence-based guidelines. Its purpose is to reduce the gap between recommended guidelines and the care Ontarians receive by providing clinicians with reminders and reports. By reducing the gap, complications can be reduced and quality of life improved for Ontarians with diabetes.

Diabetes management, of which the Diabetes Registry is a part, is one of the three clinical priorities for eHealth Ontario. The others are medication management and reducing wait times in hospital Emergency Departments.

The purpose of the request for expressions of interest (RFEI) is to identify companies with the interest and capability to design, develop, finance and maintain a chronic disease management system. The RFEI will also help identify technical requirements for the system.

Interested companies are invited to submit their Expressions of Interest by March 26, 2009. Details about the RFEI are available at www.merx.com

eHealth Ontario and Infrastructure Ontario will review the RFEI submissions. Following the RFEI process, eHealth Ontario and Infrastructure Ontario will begin a procurement process in summer 2009 to select a team with the experience, qualified personnel and financial strength to deliver the Diabetes Registry.

eHealth Ontario is a new organization that plays the leading role in harnessing technology and innovation to improve patient care, safety, and access in support of the government’s health strategy.

Infrastructure Ontario is a Crown corporation dedicated to managing some of the province’s larger and more complex infrastructure renewal projects - ensuring they are delivered on time and on budget.

Visit www.infrastructureontario.ca or www.ehealthontario.on.ca for more information.

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eHealth Ontario is a new organization that plays the leading role in harnessing technology and innovation to improve patient care, safety, and access in support of the Ontario government’s health strategy. eHealth Ontario published the first ehealth strategy for Ontario in March 2009, which is focused on providing a comprehensive, patient-focused, secure and private electronic system. eHealth Ontario will drive the transformation of Ontario’s health care system, building
toward an electronic health record for all Ontarians by 2015.

For further information please contact:

Jennifer Sclisizzi
Infrastructure Ontario
416-325-7409

Heather Brown,
Communications Advisor,
eHealth Ontario
416-586-4238
heather.brown@ehealthontario.on.ca