How Does Alberta Netcare Work?

All of the medical facilities in Alberta keep their own records of the services they provide to their patients. A copy of information that is considered “key health information” is sent to Alberta Netcare, our provincial EHR. This allows health care professionals at sites across the province to access that information whenever they need it. Learn about the kinds of information this includes.

Before Alberta Netcare, when you visited a medical facility, the health care professionals at that site would have to get records from other sites that you have visited. For example, if you visited a specialist, they had to contact your family doctor for a copy of their records. This would have been done by phone, fax and mail. Alberta Netcare makes this process more efficient.

Now, instead of contacting each site to obtain a copy of your record, the health professional that is currently treating you can simply log onto Alberta Netcare and view all of the key information. This helps them make faster decisions about tests that they still require, and choose the best treatment for you. Learn about who is allowed to access the EHR. 

Key Health Information

Medication information
This includes medications that have been prescribed to you, and medications that you have filled in a community pharmacy.

Laboratory test results
Any laboratory test that is part of the publicly funded health system will be included. This does not include tests administered or funded privately. For example, if a test was required for the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) that would not be available.

Diagnostic images and reports
This includes X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds and CT Scans, as well as a report from the radiologist who examined the images.

Hospital visits
If you have been admitted into a hospital, information about your admittance, consultations and a discharge summary will be included in the EHR.

Surgeries
If you have had a surgery, the EHR will include a report about that procedure.

Drug alerts
This function alerts health professionals to potential conflicts and interactions between your current or recent medications and a medication that they would like to give you.

Allergies and intolerances
If health professionals have documented your allergies or intolerances, they will be included in the EHR.

Personal demographic information
Information such as your name, date of birth, gender, address, and Personal Health Number are required for patient identification. This ensures that health professionals are accessing the right record for you.

Immunizations
The immunization records come from Alberta Health Services (AHS), and include publicly funded vaccines and some travel clinics, as well as community pharmacies (influenza vaccines). Immunization data for AHS facilities go back 20-50 years, and pharmacy sites go back 6-10 years.

Information included in MyHealth Records
Some information from Alberta Netcare is included in your online account, click here for details.

Further Reading

• An Overview of Alberta's Electronic Health Record Information System
• Alberta Netcare Portal's Privacy Impact Assessment and Appendices