Contract awarded for the provincial diabetes registry project

TORONTO, Aug. 9 /CNW/ - eHealth Ontario and Infrastructure Ontario announced today that with the awarding of a contract to CGI Information Systems and Management Consultants Inc., a subsidiary of CGI Group Inc. (TSX: GIB.A), work can begin on a chronic disease management system (CDMS) that will be used initially as a Diabetes Registry to manage diabetes care.

The number of Ontarians with diabetes has doubled over the last 10 years - and has grown to more than one million people in 2010. A CDMS to manage diabetes treatment and prevent the onset of related conditions such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease, will save lives, improve the quality of life for Ontarians, and will contribute to more sustainable health care by reducing a significant burden on the healthcare system in Ontario. It will also form an essential part of electronic health records.

A system for health care providers to manage diabetes care is one of the key deliverables of the province's Ontario Diabetes Strategy and a top clinical priority for eHealth Ontario. The CDMS-Diabetes Registry will be an interactive, real-time information tool to help providers develop care plans and monitor clinical results to improve care. The CDMS-Diabetes Registry will build on the foundation of eHealth Ontario's provincial identification and access systems infrastructure to ensure the secure identification of patients, providers and relevant diabetes health care services, based on common informatics standards and access technology.

Providers will be able to:

• Manage the care of patients with diabetes according to recommended guidelines;
• Securely receive data from sources such as OHIP claims and lab test results;
• Access important tests and lab results to provide better care;
• Produce reminders, alerts and reports to improve patient care.

The selection of CGI is the result of a rigorous evaluation process that began with a request for expressions of interest in February 2009. A third-party fairness monitor oversaw the procurement process to ensure fairness, equity, objectivity, transparency and adequate documentation of the process.

The contract with CGI spans a six year period. Payments to CGI will begin following substantial completion of the CDMS-Diabetes Registry. CGI will be paid by the province over a five-year operations and maintenance period. The total cost of the contract with CGI is $46.2 million.

eHealth Ontario is working with Infrastructure Ontario to deliver the project under the province's Alternative Financing and Procurement (AFP) delivery model. AFP transfers risks to the private sector vendor, including those related to providing the chronic disease management system, its financing and maintenance for a fixed period. This ensures the system is delivered 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.

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:

Heather Brown
eHealth Ontario
416-586-4238

Jennifer Sclisizzi
Infrastructure Ontario
416-325-7409