Equity in the EHR & HL7 Gender Harmony: a College project update

The Canadian College of Health Information Management is proud to be a collaborating partner on the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant proposal for the Equity in the EHR project, as well as the planning grant proposal for the HL7 Gender Harmony project. We believe these proposed projects are an excellent demonstration of the importance of health information and terminology standards for HIM professionals across Canada.

The Equity in EHR application for the Canadian Institutes of Health Research grant will be a patient-led study to address standardized health equity issues in the EHR to ensure that Canadians have access to quality care, regardless of where in the country they are located.

The implementation strategy for the HL7 Gender Harmony project is to modernize sex and gender information practices in EHRs in Canada to ensure clear definitions and inclusivity in all gender- and sex-related concepts. Current systems have not been able to collect, capture, or track this information accurately, which, in turn, places restrictions on the understanding of health needs and equity for LGBTQIA2 communities.

We are thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with and assist these research teams. We will share more information in the new year, as the projects progress.