Project Profile

The Tui’kn Initiative, Strategic Information System Plan Development and EMR Rollout

The Tui’kn Initiative brought together five First Nations Bands in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to develop, implement and evaluate, in partnership, a primary health care model that is holistic, multidisciplinary, comprehensive and supportive of the goal of improved health and quality of life in First Nations communities.  The communities involved in the Initiative included Membertou, Potlotek (Chapel Island), Eskasoni, Wagmatcook and We’ko’kmaq (Waycobah).  This project, which involved multiple phases over a two year period, involved working with the Tui’kn Initiative communities to develop and implement a Strategic Information Systems Plan including the implementation of Electronic Medical Records (EMRs).

PMCS worked with the Tui'kn Initiative to:

• working with Health Centre Staff from the communities in order to collaboratively developing a strategic information systems plan for the Tui’kn Initiative;

• planning and coordinating implementation of the SISP, including development and implementation of related training and support plans, infrastructure upgrades and budgeting across all five communities,a s well as planning the implementation of EMRs;

• working with EMR vendors to determine system capability and applicability to the needs of the First Nations communities;

• working with First Nations community members and organizations, conducting site visits and interviews at each of the First Nations communities to determine the capacity for extension of existing systems and readiness to implement EMRs;

• reporting on the results of the feasibility/assessment review; and

• managing and coordinating the implementation of EMR systems in the five First Nations communities, including:
  • identifying required investment in infrastructure and training across all five sites in order to maximize readiness for EMR roll-out in all communities;
  • acting as the prime contractor on behalf of the Tui’kn Initiative with the EMR vendor including negotiating licensing terms and conditions for the sites;
  • coordinating the design and implementation of the EMR system;
  • developing and maintaining the project plan, creating regular monthly status reports and other project management tools to support implementation; and
  • preparing a post-implementation report.