MyHealth Records

Information for Healthcare Professionals

MyHealth Records, previously referred to as the Alberta Personal Health Record, is an online (browser-based) tool that will give adult Albertans the ability to view some of their health records from Netcare, the provincial electronic health record.

Launching in early 2019, MyHealth Records will empower Albertans to better track their health by providing a secure online location to gather, store and manage personal health information from a computer, tablet or smartphone and later share this information with you, their care providers.

Benefits

On the topic of patient’s electronic access to health information, evidence points to a number of benefits for the entire circle of care:

Studies report improvements in the quality of patient-physician interactions, with patients indicating they are better informed about their own health, such as being better prepared for provider visits and better able to appreciate the impact of treatments and preventive care.
Many health systems report net benefit from providing patients access to laboratory test results. Concerns that such access will drive additional workload do not typically materialize or persist. Indeed, easy access to lab test results can reduce the frequency of follow-up phone-ins and visits.

Sources:

Canada Health Infoway. (2018). Digital Health Myths.
Healthcare: Information Management & Communications Canada. (2016). The case for the connected patient.
Social Research and Demonstration Corporation. (2015). Impacts of direct patient access to laboratory results: Final report.

Features

Overview

View medications dispensed from community pharmacies. Medication history includes medications dispensed up to 18 months prior to signing up for MyHealth Records access.
View majority of immunizations administered in Alberta. Users will also be able to enter immunizations received but not documented. Patient-entered information remains part of a personally managed collection, not transferred into Netcare or the Pharmacy Information Network.
View the results of common lab tests completed within 18 months of the sign-up date to MyHealth Records.
Keep journals to track mood, sleep, weight and fitness goals.
Upload and track information from personal health devices, including supported blood pressure monitors, blood glucose meters and fitness trackers.
Print out reports of MyHealth Records content to share with healthcare providers.

More features will be added to MyHealth Records in the months and years after it launches.

Available Support

MyHealth Records is designed to be easily understood by Albertans. Clinicians and healthcare provider offices will receive support materials to offer those asking questions about MyHealth Records.

A call-in line will provide troubleshooting advice and help navigating MyHealth Records. Public Health nurses from Health Link will also be available to answer questions about any health information released to MyHealth Records.

Integration with AHS Connect Care

MyHealth Records and Connect Care (the provincial AHS clinical information system) will be designed to work together to provide a seamless experience for the user. How this will happen continues to be worked on.

A secure place for sensitive health information

MyHealth Records is designed with the security of Albertans’ private health information a top priority.

To access MyHealth Records, users will need to obtain a free MyAlberta Digital ID. This involves a comprehensive verification process.
Information will be protected using both user authentication and data encryption.
A privacy impact assessment has been completed to ensure MyHealth Records maintains personal privacy.
Third party security auditors will test the service’s security on a regular basis.

Immediate Access to Lab Test Results

With MyHealth Records, Albertans will have access to common lab test results as soon as a result is made available. The following steps can mitigate impacts for healthcare providers and staff:

All lab tests found on MyHealth Records will include links to MyHealth.Alberta.ca clinical abstracts to explain more about tests.
All lab tests found on MyHealth Records will include clinical abstracts to explain test results.
Should individuals still have questions about a test result, they can call the help line to connect with a public health nurse via Health Link.

Available Lab Test Results

When launched, MyHealth Records will give access to the following common lab test results:

Blood

Liver Function: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Albumin, Bilirubin, Protein
Hematology: Complete blood count and differential, Ferritin, Iron
Coagulation: Activated partial thomboplastin time (APTT/PTT), Prothrombin time (PT/INR)
Electrolytes: Calcium, Bicarbonate, Chloride, Phosphate, Potassium, Sodium
Lipid Panel: Cholesterol (HDL/LDL/non-HDL), Triglyceride
Renal Function: Creatinine, Glomerular filtration rate, Urea
Endocrine: Glucose (standard and fasting), Glycohemoglobin (A1C), T4 and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

Urine

Urinalysis (routine)

Questions

Please email: myhealthrecords@gov.ab.ca

MyHealth Records​​​​

Information for Healthcare Professionals​