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In April 1978, the front page of the Belleville General Hospital (BGH) Quarterly newsletter proudly announced, “Computer Age Comes to BGH.” It introduced an unlikely new hero in the fight for better patient care: a basic/four model 400 mini-computer, the hospital’s first venture into the digital realm. 

Launched on December 1, 1977, this computer faced its share of challenges. “We anticipated start-up problems, and we were not disappointed,” the article candidly noted. “Bugs,” as they were affectionately called in tech lingo, popped up like weeds, turning the implementation into a meticulous game of whack-a-mole for the hospital staff. 

Fast forward to today, and technology has evolved at lightning speed, fundamentally transforming healthcare. Quinte Health’s four hospitals have relied on the Meditech system since 1997, but now they are on the cusp of a groundbreaking transition to Lumeo, a cutting-edge health information system shared across southeastern Ontario. This shift promises not only to enhance the quality of care but also to elevate the patient experience to new heights—marking a significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of healthcare technology. 

Once Lumeo is fully operational, patient electronic medical records will flow seamlessly among six healthcare organizations—Brockville General Hospital, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Lennox & Addington County General Hospital, Perth Smiths Falls District Hospital, Providence Care, and Quinte Health. This unprecedented collaboration will cultivate a spirit of unity among providers, ensuring that patients receive the comprehensive care they deserve. 

Like the technology introduced in 1977, this new system will have its own challenges, but the teams at Quinte Health are well-equipped to manage and overcome these challenges together.  

Lumeo: One Patient, One Record, One System 

The Lumeo system will revolutionize patient information management, drastically improving the accuracy of medical records and streamlining the way we do things. No longer will patients have to recount their medical history over and over again as their information will be centralized and easily accessible. This means that caregivers can access real-time information, enabling swift and informed decision-making. 

Imagine a patient visiting the emergency department or undergoing tests: their health history will be at the fingertips of every member of their care team. This seamless access fosters collaboration, reduces duplication, and minimizes errors—ultimately ensuring that patients receive timely and high-quality treatment. 

Preparing for a Transformative Journey 

In the coming months, over 2,300 Quinte Health team members will embark on a comprehensive training journey to master the new system. Additionally, an impressive cohort of 250 staff and physicians, dubbed “Super Users,” have stepped up to receive advanced training. Their mission is to provide vital support and guidance to their colleagues during this transition and beyond. Their dedication exemplifies the spirit of teamwork at Quinte Health . 

Behind the scenes, the Information Services and Deployment teams are hard at work, rolling out more than 4,000 new devices across the four hospitals. These devices, including workstations on wheels equipped with medication drawers, computers, and barcode scanners, are designed to streamline workflows and enhance patient safety. 

The transition to Lumeo represents more than just an upgrade; it symbolizes Quinte Health’s commitment to ensuring that patients receive the safest and highest quality care possible. This initiative is about more than technology—it’s about enhancing the way our teams care for their patients. 

If you receive care at Quinte Health hospitals in December, please be patient with our teams as we become accustomed to working within the new system. We will do our best to minimize disruptions as we transition to this new and better way of providing and documenting care.

#Connection

#StrongerTogether