DMR: a major player in the modernization of Quebec’s health and social services network 

The Montreal Health and Social Services Agency (ASSSM) has engaged DMR to conduct the Health Information Access Layer (HIAL) project. This project will implement the technology infrastructure needed so that 95,000 users, targeted by the health and social services network, can access the Quebec Electronic Health Record (QEHR) in a complete security.

"We're extremely proud to be able to contribute to the transformation of Quebec's health care system," pointed out Mr. Yves Pelletier, DMR's Senior Vice-President of Business Development. The HIAL will be a cornerstone of the Quebec Electronic Health Record, which itself is one of the major projects in the extensive program to automate the health and social services network undertaken by Quebec's Ministry of Health and Social Services."

Information sharing between health care professionals is becoming so critical that the HIAL will give them fast, and effective access to electronic health record information depending on their assigned access privileges. As the portal to the Quebec Electronic Health Record, the HIAL will ensure the integration, interoperability and standardization of exchanges with existing systems, in a controlled environment, in order to protect the confidentiality of patient's health information. A strong authentication system, also known as public key infrastructure (PKI), will be implemented to identify and authenticate users accessing the QEHR.

DMR will be involved in this major project, from the definition of the solution through its evolution. At peak times, 50 to 75 people from DMR and its partners—Microsoft, Notarius and Hewlett-Packard (Canada)—will be working on the project expected to last until 2010.