Companies invited to bid on provincial diabetes registry project

TORONTO , Nov. 25 /CNW/ - Plans to develop an online provincial diabetes registry took another step forward today when eHealth Ontario and Infrastructure Ontario released a request for proposals to three short-listed companies. The companies are invited to submit their bids to develop a chronic disease management system that will be used initially as a diabetes registry for Ontarians and an eHealth Portal framework.

It is estimated that more than 900,000 Ontarians have diabetes - a number that continues to grow rapidly. The online diabetes registry is one of eHealth Ontario's top clinical priorities and part of the provincial government's Ontario Diabetes Strategy. The diabetes registry will be an interactive, real-time information system designed to:

    
    -  Track how well diabetes patients in Ontario are cared for
    -  Receive data from existing sources, such as OHIP claims and laboratory
       test results
    -  Track dates of important tests and lab results to help clinicians and
       patients better manage their care
    -  Produce reminders, alerts and reports to improve patient care
    

A request for qualifications issued in July 2009 short-listed the companies based on their experience, their product and its ability to be implemented quickly for use by health care professionals, and their financial capacity to deliver a health care IT project of this size and complexity. The companies invited to bid are:

    
    -  CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc.
    -  TELUS Health Solutions GP
    -  xwave, a Division of Bell Aliant Regional Communications, LP
    

Once submissions to the request for proposals are received and reviewed, a winning company is expected to be selected and announced in spring 2010. A copy of the request for proposals is available on Infrastructure Ontario's website at www.infrastructureontario.ca

eHealth Ontario is working with Infrastructure Ontario to deliver the project under the provincial government's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) delivery model. AFP transfers risks to the private sector, including risks related to designing and developing the chronic disease management system, financing for its development and maintaining the system for a five-year period. This ensures the system is built on time, on budget and is well maintained and operational.

eHealth Ontario plays the leading role in harnessing technology and innovation to improve patient care, safety, and access in support of the government's health strategy. The organization published its first ehealth strategy 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.

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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For further information: Media Contacts: Jessica Hooker, Infrastructure Ontario, [phone]; Heather Brown, eHealth Ontario, [phone]