Ottawa area hospitals among the first in Canada to offer Health Records on iPhone

Patients will have another simple and secure way to access medical data.

Hospitals in the Ottawa region now offer Health Records on iPhone, which brings together hospitals, clinics and the existing Apple Health app to make it easy for patients to see their available medical data from multiple providers whenever they choose. The Health Records feature is part of the Health app, which also shows activity, heart rate, nutrition and other health data consolidated from iPhone, Apple Watch and HealthKit-enabled third-party apps.

This Apple integration is available today for patients from Arnprior Regional Health, Bruyère, Carleton Place, District Memorial Hospital, Glengarry Memorial Hospital, Montfort and Queensway Carleton Hospital. Together these hospitals form the CHAMP partnership which uses the MEDITECH Expanse health information system.  

Health Records creates a direct connection between medical institutions and a patient’s iPhone, allowing them to download and see a central view of their allergies, conditions, immunizations, lab results, medications, procedures and vitals. It also notifies patients when their data is updated. Patients from these hospitals can access Health Records from within the Health app and can download their health records by using their existing Connected Care Patient Portal account credentials. Connected Care is a free online patient portal, powered by MEDITECH, that currently enables patients to access their patient information from any CHAMP hospital – including test results, Medications prescribed at discharge, and visit summaries – securely from their own device. 

“With Health Records, Queensway Carleton Hospital is empowering our patients to access their own health information, on their own device. We know that by enabling a more holistic view of a patient’s health information, they can be more directly involved in their health, which leads to better outcomes,” said Tim Pemberton, Vice President, Mental Health, Diagnostic Services, Chief Information Officer and Chief Privacy Officer at Queensway Carleton Hospital.  

“This is a fabulous tool for those of us who want a deeper understanding of the health care we received while we were at the hospital,” shared Deborah Clark, Chair of the Patient and Family Advisory Council, Arnprior Regional Health. “I want to know what tests were done and what were the results. I also want to know what treatments were prescribed. Health Records on iPhone provides convenient, secure access to that personal health information. For many of us, knowing really helps us move along our personal health journey. For the families who support us, knowing improves our home care after the hospital stay.” 

Health Records on iPhone was designed to protect patients’ privacy through a direct, encrypted connection between the user’s iPhone and the health care organization. Downloaded health records data is stored on-device and encrypted with the user’s iPhone passcode, Touch ID or Face ID.

"We are thrilled to see CHAMP once again leading the way in Canada by becoming one of the first healthcare organizations to implement Health Records on iPhone,” said Robert Molloy, MEDITECH Director Canadian Market and Product Strategy. “CHAMP has established itself as a strong advocate for patient engagement. Giving patients convenient access to their own data will help keep them connected with their care as well as keep them healthier in the long run.”

For more information on Health Records, visit: https://www.apple.com/ca/healthcare/health-records/

For more information how Apple protects user privacy when they use Health Records: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209519

Hospital Patient Portal webpages: 

• Arnprior Regional Health
• Bruyère 
• Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital 
• Glengarry Memorial Hospital 
• Hôpital Montfort 
• Queensway Carleton Hospital

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Media inquiries:

Arnprior Regional Health: Melissa McDermott, MMcDermott@arnpriorhealth.ca

Bruyère: Jesse Cressman-Dickinson, jcressmandickinson@bruyere.org

Carleton Place & District Hospital: Jane Adams, jane@brainstorm.nu

Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital: Keri Massia, kerimassia@hgmh.on.ca

Hôpital Montfort: Martin Sauve, martinsauve@montfort.on.ca

Queensway Carleton Hospital: Kelly Spence kspence@qch.on.ca

FAQ: Apple Health Integration

Can I access my Connected Care Patient Portal account to access my records on Apple Health? 

Yes, the Apple Health Integration is available today from your iPhone or other iOS device.  

Do I need a Connected Care Patient Portal account to access my records on Apple Health? 

Yes, users must be enrolled in the Patient Portal to benefit from the integration of health records in Apple Health.

How can I be sure my personal health information is secured? 

Both MHealth and Apple Health have rigorous security standards and required strong authentication measures upon enrolment and usage. One extra step users can take to better protect their personal information is ensuring their mobile device is protected by a passcode, Touch ID or Face ID, and avoid sharing this device with others.  

Is this only available for Apple users, or will Android devices have the same capacity? 

The integration of the MHealth app is only available with Apple Health at the moment. When this becomes available on Android devices, we will inform our clientele.

Will I see everything that I find in the MHealth app within Apple Health?

Apple Health is an extension of the Patient Portal, not a replacement. You will be able to see key health information from your health records, including lab results, prescribed medications, immunizations, and procedures performed such as Diagnostic Imaging tests and surgical procedures. Upcoming appointments and reports are not viewable within the Apple Health app.

Can my healthcare team see my health data from Apple Health (heart rate, activity, steps, sleep, etc.)? 

No. The health data flow is one directional to the patient’s phone, so your healthcare team will not be able to see it.

Will the information available in my language of choice? 

Yes. The Apple Health app works in the language that your Apple device has been setup with.

Who can I contact if I’m having problems accessing my records through Apple Health? 

You can reach our support team by email at ConnectedCare@MyChamp.ca or by calling our toll-free number at 1-833-721-0660 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday (excluding holidays).