Sunnybrook and TELUS Health Solutions partner to create unique electronic patient records

Toronto, ON, May 31, 2010 - Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is pleased to announce a new partnership with TELUS to provide people with access to their personal health information anywhere at anytime via the Internet.

Building on the success of Sunnybrook’s MyChart application, which provides the hospital’s patients with access to their electronic record through a secure section of the website, this new venture provides the same important information to even more people through the TELUS health space service, which allows people to manage their own healthcare information – from drug allergies to past medical treatments – in a secure online platform.

“By combining the innovation of our MyChart application with the incredible telecommunications infrastructure available with TELUS, we are providing an unparalleled level of service to Canadians,” said Sam Marafioti, Sunnybrook’s Vice President Corporate Strategy and Development and Chief Information Officer. “Participating in this new online environment will provide patients and their families with a wealth of helpful information they can use to make informed decisions about their care.”

In the TELUS health space online environment, patients will be able to update and access their health information and share it, if they choose to do so, with their health care providers. As well as their own information, the online space includes educational information about common diseases and conditions from a number of trusted partners. TELUS health space apps for the Apple iPhone and RIM Blackberry will also be available, which will enable mobile access to personal health information.

Sunnybrook first launched MyChart in 2006 as one of Canada’s only online, secure web portals for patients to access their personal health information. Since then, the technology has been adopted by a number of different healthcare institutions and government agencies.

Sunnybrook is proud to be home to an award winning Information Technology and Information Services team that has developed a number of e-health applications that have improved access to patient care and clinical efficiency. In 2006 and 2007, the team received the prestigious Canadian Information Productivity Finalist Awards in addition to several other national and international honours.

About Sunnybrook
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is inventing the future of health care for the 1 million patients the hospital cares for each year through the dedication of its more than 10,000 staff, physicians and volunteers. An internationally recognized leader in research and education and a full affiliation with the University of Toronto distinguishes Sunnybrook as one of Canada’s premier academic health sciences centres. Sunnybrook specializes in caring for Canada’s war veterans, high-risk pregnancies, critically-ill newborns, adults and the elderly, and treating and preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, neuroscience disorders, orthopaedic and arthritic conditions and traumatic injuries.

Media Contact:
Laura Bristow
Communications and Stakeholder Relations
416 480-4040
www.sunnybrook.ca