ARNPRIOR – Patients’ health information is now at their owners’ fingertips thanks to Arnprior Regional Health’s (ARH) launch of the new patient portal giving easy access to medical records, lab results and appointment history — as well as providing a secure platform for virtual appointments.

“This exciting evolution in our electronic health records project, empowers patients to engage in their care by making their own medical history more accessible,” ARH Health information Services and Decision Support manager and Chief Privacy Officer Andrea McClymont said.

The patient portal was launched in collaboration between Arnprior Regional Health (ARH) and other Champlain Association of Meditech Partners (CHAMP) a group of hospitals working together on the electronic health records project within the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) hospitals, which includes:

• Queensway Carleton Hospital
• l’Hôpital Montfort
• Élisabeth Bruyère Hospital
• Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital
• Glengarry Memorial Hospital

Patients who have registered for the patient portal can now access their health records from any of these CHAMP hospitals. In phase one of this new tool, patients can view the following information:

• Virtual consultations (at the clinician’s discretion)
• Lab results and medical reports
• Medication prescribed at discharge
• Visit and appointment history
• Dates and details for scheduled appointments

The ability to attend virtual visits is a key feature of the new patient portal. Virtual visits are appointments and consultations with physicians and other healthcare providers that are facilitated virtually through a computer, tablet or smartphone. Virtual visits are scheduled at the discretion of the patient (if they have registered for the patient portal) and their care team.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has created a greater demand for virtual care, when it is possible, in order to maintain physical distancing,” McClymont said. “We expedited the first phase of the patient portal project in order to help facilitate this need as ARH and other hospitals in our region gradually restart non-urgent clinical services.”

For more details about the Patient Portal and how to register, visit www.arnpriorregionalhealth.ca/portal or speak to the patient registration team when you arrive at the hospital.