TORONTO, Sept. 26 /CNW/ - Dalton McGuinty's approach to electronic health
records can be summed up with three "E"s.Evasive:
For four years, Dalton McGuinty has evaded his responsibility to
bring forward an electronic health record.
"There is more work to do as it relates to the e-health strategy.
I said to the honourable member earlier that we'll be bringing
that forward...." (Hansard, George Smitherman, April 27, 2006)
"It's not always beneficial to be the early adapter with respect
to big technology. Being the first out of the gate on new
technology solutions is very often the most expensive." (George
Smitherman, Canadian Press Newswire, July 31, 2007)
In April 2007, Tony Fell, chairman of RBC Capital Markets,
resigned from the Toronto Central LHIN because he was "extremely
disappointed" with the low priority that had been accorded by
Dalton McGuinty to e-health. (Toronto Star, April 19, 2007)
Expensive:
The crown agency responsible for e-health in Ontario has seen the
number of people on its payroll earning more than $100,000 increase
at a frightening pace. In 2004, only 14 people qualified for the
sunshine list. By 2006, Smart Systems for Health was paying 101
people more than $100,000 for a total of $13,440,979.88.
Despite spending $458 million over the last five years, Deloitte
Consulting says Smart Systems for Health is "poorly regarded in the
health-care community, lacks strategic direction, and has not been
held properly accountable by the government."
Election Time:
Dalton McGuinty is claiming now that if he is re-elected the people
of Ontario will have an e-health record by 2015. But that's not what
they were saying just a few months ago:
"We don't have any final decisions on timelines, or announcements
on timelines for the full implementation of the electronic health
record." (A.G. Klei, Globe and Mail, June 24, 2007)
Leadership Matters.
For further information: Mike Van Soelen, (647) 722-1760
