IT’S NO surprise that health-related issues are on the minds of most Canadians, from politicians and lobbyists to concerned citizens from coast to coast. What may be a surprise to you is that there are information and communications technology companies in Nova Scotia that focus on health-related issues, particularly e-health.

E-health is the pairing of health-care initiatives with information and communications technology. Many aspects of health care and the health-care system have benefited from the integration of information and communications technology. We see it in small and large initiatives and in public and home-based health care.

Take an instrument like an electronic thermometer and compare it to its mercury cousin. In addition to providing quick temperature readings, some models can even store a memory of a person’s most recent temperature readings. This technology is used in homes across the country.

For Nova Scotia businesses, e-health has seen many advances, and there are plenty more in its future. A person looking for health-related information on the Internet can find help at GenieKnows.com, a Halifax-based website. Genieknows.com provides users with tools that allow for targeted online searches in various fields, including health.

Concertia Technologies Inc. is another local company that is making its mark on the e-health industry. Among its many projects is one that could have an effect on the lives of all Nova Scotians. Primary health information management is a joint initiative with the provincial Health Department. The information management program provides an electronic patient record for primary health-care providers. Through this electronic alternative to paper records, health-care providers can access a patient’s history instantly, including his/her health status and medication lists...

See the full story at The ChronicleHerald.ca