Government Technology

British Columbia to Build Pan-Canadian Communicable Disease Surveillance System


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September 6, 2006 By

A new IBM system will assist in the day-to-day delivery of public health services and will help manage the risk of communicable disease in Canada. This system will help public health professionals provide better care for Canadians in response to the routine communicable diseases in Canada, like measles or influenza, and will improve preparedness for a major outbreak should one occur in the future.

British Columbia signed a five-year, $24.7-million contract with IBM Canada to design and build the system, and to support the system with continuing improvements over the next five years. Each province and territory is planning its implementation strategy for the system that will be ready to install in 2007.

Once complete, the system will enable public health professionals to log on to a secure, easy-to-use portal and quickly enter information about cases, symptoms and outcomes, providing health officials with a timely and comprehensive view of the state of public health. Should a serious communicable disease occur, the system will alert public health officials who will plan and direct actions to protect Canadians.

"This project is essential in Canada's preparations for emerging public health threats," said Todd Kalyniuk, a partner in IBM Canada's healthcare consulting practice. "Canada learned from SARS that having an effective information system in the hands of front-line workers is key to early detection and effective management of communicable diseases like SARS, West Nile Virus, and Avian Flu."


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