Lumeo Turns One: A Story of Collaboration, Innovation and More Connected Patient Care
On December 7, 2024, at 6:43 a.m., Lumeo’s six partner healthcare organizations reached a milestone, many years in the making. After half a decade of planning, preparation and partnership, Lumeo—the region’s shared health information system—was ready to go live.
As Lumeo approaches its first anniversary, it’s a fitting moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and to recognize the work still ahead.
“Launching Lumeo across Quinte Health—let alone across the region—in one day was an enormous undertaking, and this first year has been a learning curve for all of us,” explained Sarah Corkey, Director, Integrated Quality and Clinical Informatics. “What has stood out most is the willingness of staff to ask questions, support one another and stay focused on patient care. Every week we see changes made in the system that collectively improve workflows and confidence in the system. That progress belongs to the teams who are using Lumeo every day.”
The launch was unprecedented as it went live simultaneously at six healthcare organizations across Southeastern Ontario. This bold, collective approach was made possible by careful preparation and the dedication of teams across the region. More than 2,000 physicians, 5,000 nurses and 13,000 staff members completed training before the system ever touched a patient chart.
“Implementing a regional health information system is one of the most complex initiatives our sector can undertake,” said Matthew Campbell, Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer. “On behalf of the Quinte Health leadership team, we are grateful for the perseverance, professionalism, and heart our teams brought this year. Lumeo is already improving the patient experience, and that is a direct reflection of the people behind it.”
While Lumeo is a technology system, its impact is deeply human. Today, patients no longer need to retell their story at every visit. Care teams have a more complete picture of someone’s health history—whether a patient is in Belleville, Brockville, Kingston or anywhere in between—which helps to support safer, more coordinated care.
“Being able to see a patient’s journey in real time—whether they’re in Belleville or Kingston—is incredible,” said Natalie Hart, Oncology Patient Care Lead and Registered Nurse. “Patients don’t always see what’s happening behind the scenes, but the amount of information we now have at our fingertips makes such a difference. We can see their treatments, diagnostic imaging, radiation, labs and appointments right away, which means better decisions and better outcomes. And the teamwork across the region—and among Team Quinte Health—has grown stronger.”
The successes of this first year belong entirely to the thousands of staff, physicians, and leaders across all six partner organizations. They embraced change, pushed through challenges, learned new workflows, and supported one another to make care better for patients and families across the region.
John Remington, Clinical Informatics Specialist, had the chance to work closely with Quinte Health teams before, during, and after go-live, and has seen firsthand how committed people are to getting this right.
“As we approach the one-year mark of the Lumeo rollout, even my trips to Tim Hortons have changed. Right after Go-Live, they came with plenty of spirited feedback from people in line for coffee. Soon they became fact-finding missions—hearing what needed urgent attention and working to fix it,” said John. “Now, nearly a year later, those chats are mostly about optimization and workflow. The day-to-day progress can seem slow, but we’re turning a corner. I have every confidence that a year from now we’ll be in an even better place, supported by a modern health information system that meets patient needs more efficiently. Thank you to everyone who’s shared suggestions and constructive criticism. Every time someone finds a feature that makes their job easier or gets information faster, that’s real progress.”
As we look toward year two, we do so with gratitude, determination and a shared commitment to keep improving. Lumeo’s journey is just beginning, and together, we are building something stronger for the communities we serve.
#Connection #StrongerTogether
