Electronic health records connect care teams within qathet and beyond
Having the right information at the right time can change the care experience. A shared electronic health record is helping reduce repetition, improve safety and support better outcomes for patients.
In October 2025, we reached a significant milestone at qathet General Hospital. At 4 a.m., a newborn became the first person in the region of more than 21,000 residents to have an electronic health record. This moment marked the official launch of the shared electronic health records system in qathet.
The initial go‑live included qathet General Hospital, Evergreen Care Home and Willingdon Creek Village, with Texada Island Health Centre and community programs across the qathet region joining in the days that followed.
These sites are now part of a shared system used by approximately 600 clinics and care locations across Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), Providence Health Care (PHC) and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). Together, we contribute to a single, integrated patient chart that replaces multiple fragmented systems. Since 2018, more than five million patient records have been created, strengthening continuity of care across the province.
The impact in qathet was immediate.
“I was amazed at how quickly the system changed the way we work and share information,” said Caitlin Lament, patient services manager at qathet General Hospital. “Between nurses, physicians and allied health, seeing teams become more efficient and feel more effective in their roles translates directly to better patient care.”
Patients also benefit from an improved, safer experience with care teams now having real‑time access to more complete health information, reducing the need for patients to repeat their medical history.
For Michelle Hanna, Director for qathet, the transformation strengthens the high‑quality, team‑based care already embedded across the region.
“We work in very integrated teams across care settings,” she said. “Having a system that’s shared between urban and rural sites, and across qathet’s acute, community and long‑term care settings, empowers our care teams to share, collaborate and access information in ways that will make a real difference for patients and families.”
The move to electronic health records is also improving how patients access their own information. Through AccessMyHealth, a new online service, patients can view diagnostic results, see upcoming appointments and read notes from their care team, helping them stay informed, engaged and active in their care.
