Canadian Surveillance Systems and EHRs
In today�s technology-driven world, communication often occurs through the use of electronic devices.
From cell phones to computers, society relies on these electronic devices on a regular basis. In response
to this trend, many agencies and governments are promoting the use of electronic communication tools
such as electronic health records (EHRs). For instance, the Canadian government has funded billions of
dollars toward the use of EHRs (Health Canada, 2009; Office of the Auditor General of Canada, 2010.
Select two Canadian disease surveillance systems of interest to you. Then, consider the implications of
EHRs for each of the systems.
post a brief description of each of the Canadian surveillance systems you selected. Describe how EHRs
are used in the two systems, noting similarities and differences between the two you selected. Analyze
ART 2
the potential challenges and opportunities of using EHRs in a similar manner in your own country. Provide
recommendations for how those challenges might be addressed. Respond to a colleague who provided
different recommendations and/or who addressed different systems than you.
Use APA formatting for your discussion and to cite your resources.
Canadian Surveillance Systems and EHRs
There are many forms of Canadian Surveillance Systems that are currently in use. Among
them include the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (Diabetes) and the Canadian
Communicable Disease Surveillance System. The Chronic Disease Surveillance System
(Diabetes) became established in 1997. The system was to use of administrative health data to
collect information about diabetes and manage it effectively. Electronic Health Records have an
implication on the surveillance system. For example, with the data, the surveillance systems for
diabetes can identify the trends in diabetes (Robitaille et al., 2012). Hence, it becomes easier to
know if the disease-causing mechanisms are evolving. On the other hand, the Canadian
Communicable Disease Surveillance System is a disease monitoring and evaluation procedure
that takes care of changes in the health of a population ((James et al., 2012). As a result, it takes
into consideration their care, prevention and control programs (James et al., 2012).
ART 3
With the use of EHRs in health facilities, there are some similarities and differences that
the two Canadian surveillance systems incur. For example, EHR data has not yet become fully
centralized (Terry et al., 2008). As a result, it happens that the two forms of surveillance have
different EHR units that they have their data input for future use in surveillance. The analysis of
data from various surveillance systems also does qualify in uniformity (Terry et al., 2008).
Hence, there are differences between communicable and chronic diseases surveillance in relation
to EHR programs. However, there are also similarities. HER policies are uniform across the
platform, and when it comes to disease surveillance systems, they apply in equal measures.
Using EHR has challenges, and they depend on the country that they are being applied, in
my country; the use of EHR systems will undergo major setbacks due to inconsistency in data
collection and reporting. Quality reporting requirements provide another challenge that comes
with the usage of electronic reporting in my country. There are situations where the information
fed into the systems will not represent the reality. In the process, the information will mislead
causing the reporting systems to make a wrong perception and conclusion. There are several
issues that come with the use of EHR systems. Among them include feasibility of the data and its
viability (Terry et al., 2008). Additionally, other challenges include the challenge of taking up a
well-tested measure to see if they apply in the right frames.
Despite some of these challenges very general, they apply to my native country and are
very rampant. To deal with them, it becomes important to consider their source and come up
with a strategy. Governments should come out and engage in engage in health research to see
how to improve the surveillance systems. With the possibility of succeeding, most of the issues
that come with the condition will reduce in their sharpness or become eradicated altogether.
ART 4
One of my colleagues chose to address the blood transfusion surveillance system used in
Canada. For this type of surveillance system, there is a high likelihood that it has success
chances. For example, in the collection of information from the blood transfusions and donations
taking place, the data collected becomes huge. Hence, it is used to check diseases in the blood,
and how it reacts in different individuals. In the end, all the information and surveillance will
have a greater positive effect. Most the systems however work in a similar ways with the only
difference coming from their application and use of EHR systems.
References
James, R. C., Blanchard, J. F., Campbell, D., Clottey, C., Osei, W., Svenson, L. W., &
Noseworthy, T. W. (2003). A model for non-communicable disease surveillance in
Canada: the prairie pilot diabetes surveillance system. Chronic diseases in Canada,
25(1), 7-12.
Robitaille, C., Dai, S., Waters, C., Loukine, L., Bancej, C., Quach, S., … & Quan, H. (2012).
Diagnosed hypertension in Canada: incidence, prevalence and associated mortality.
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(1), E49-E56.
Terry, A. L., Thorpe, C. F., Giles, G., Brown, J. B., Harris, S. B., Reid, G. J., … & Stewart, M.
(2008). Implementing electronic health records Key factors in primary care. Canadian
Family Physician, 54(5), 730-736.
