WESTERN PROVINCES RECEIVE FUNDING FOR CHRONIC DISEASE SUPPORT

Canada's four western provinces will share $8 million in federal funding to implement common data standards and electronic messages to manage information related to three chronic diseases; diabetes, hypertension and renal failure (or kidney disease).

As the lead jurisdiction, Alberta Health and Wellness will administer the funding until March 31st, 2006 under the auspices of the Western Health Information Collaborative (WHIC). Four million dollars will support WHIC common project work, and $1 million for each province will support chronic disease management implementation work.

"Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes has been identified as a priority on Alberta's health agenda. This federal funding is a welcome and encouraging move," Alberta Health and Wellness Minister Iris Evans said. "Over the long-term, the Chronic Disease Management Infostructure will help us deliver appropriate and co-ordinated primary health care to patients dealing with these diseases as a result of better information at the point of care. It will also help us to identify contributing factors in chronic diseases."

"Comprehensive patient information is a vital tool for health care practitioners; particularly in this time when chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are on the rise," BC's Minister of Health Services Shirley Bond said. "That is why this Chronic Disease Management Infostructure is so important. It will facilitate the sharing of data between care providers and enhance interdisciplinary care by allowing information to be available to the appropriate care providers - at the right time and in the right place."

"With our unique, diverse population, the management of chronic diseases like diabetes continues to be a priority in Saskatchewan," Saskatchewan Health Minister John Nilson said. "We appreciate the federal commitment to this project and look forward to the implementation of the Chronic Disease Management Infostructure. Improved access to health information leads to better chronic care management, a key component in achieving our Action Plan for Saskatchewan Health Care goal of expanding primary health care across Saskatchewan."

"Chronic diseases cost the Canadian economy billions of dollars every year," Manitoba Healthy Living Minister Theresa Oswald said. "Through these kinds of federal-provincial partnerships, the provinces are able to continue to improve access to integrated, effective and affordable primary health care and support individuals and families as they work to stay healthy."

The project's objective is to create standards for chronic disease data including minimum data sets, information interchange messages and related data definitions, and the capacity to share this data in support of clinical decision making for the primary health care team.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jocelyn Argue Health Regina Phone: (306)787-4083	David Dear Alberta Health and Wellness Edmonton Phone: (780)427-7164
Joe Czech Manitoba Healthy Living Winnipeg Phone: (204)945-0750	Gillian Kilshaw BC Ministry of Health Phone: (250)952-1902