The potential for Ontario region's health information system to facilitate case management, program planning, and evaluation and to promote enhanced First Nations' control of health services.
The Ontario Region of Medical Services Branch, Health Canada, comprises approximately 63,000 First Nations people living on-reserve in four geographical areas: Sioux Lookout, Moose Factory, Thunder Bay, and Southern Ontario. As of April 1996, 35% of the 126 First Nations communities in Ontario Region have either assumed control of the delivery of health services or are in the process of transfer negotiations with the federal government. Another 14% have entered into Integrated Community-based Health Services Agreements with the federal government, which is an intermediate step that could culminate in a complete transfer agreement. In order to provide First Nations with an epidemiological database for effective program planning and evaluation, Medical Services Branch, Ontario Region, has worked in partnership with First Nations during the past two and one-half years to develop a comprehensive, computerized Health Information System (HIS). HIS will provide First Nations with a significant degree of autonomy from the Medical Services Branch structure, with regard to access to health information for case management, program planning and evaluation, and the establishment of their own program priorities at the community level. With access to the HIS, First Nations will eventually be able to re-profile available resource in response to their own identified community health priorities.
Johnson
R J
RJ
Medical Services Branch, Health Canada, Ontario, Canada.
D019090:Case Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006285:Health Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008331:Management Information Systems; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000458:organization & administration; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011786:Quality Control; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data