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In a significant leap forward for patient care in the region, BC Cancer – Abbotsford successfully transitioned to CST Cerner, an integrated electronic health records system, as part of the Clinical & Systems Transformation (CST) project. This pivotal move, which took place on January 22, 2024, marks another step closer to delivering more seamless care to all cancer patients in B.C.
BC Cancer is now halfway through its CST Cerner implementation with the Abbotsford centre joining its sister centres in Vancouver and Prince George. These BC Cancer sites, along with other health care facilities at the Provincial Health Services Authority, Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care on CST Cerner, are enhancing connectivity between all sites using the same system. There is now a network of more than 40,000 health care professionals with real-time access to patient records and critical health information.
For patients and their families, this transition means a significant improvement in their health care journey. With CST Cerner, medical histories, test results and treatment plans are instantly accessible, reducing the need for repeated tests and questions.
This implementation at BC Cancer – Abbotsford is a testament to the dedication of more than 400 staff and physicians who have been trained to use the new system. Their commitment ensures that cancer treatment is not just about managing disease, but about providing care that encompasses the needs and experiences of each patient.
The Abbotsford centre is part of a broader rollout plan that will see all BC Cancer centres across the province adopting CST Cerner.
“The transition from paper-based charts and replacing older systems to CST Cerner is laying the foundation to achieving BC Cancer’s digital health goals and more integrated care for patients across the province. We are modernizing how staff and medical staff can work,” says Dr. Kim Chi, Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer of BC Cancer. This unified approach is a significant step towards ensuring that every patient receives the best possible care, regardless of where they are treated.
With BC Cancer’s Surrey centre, Victoria centre and Nanaimo satellite scheduled next to go live this year, the CST project continues to build momentum. As more facilities transition to CST Cerner, the vision of a fully integrated health care system in B.C. becomes closer to reality, promising a future where patient care is safer and more connected than ever before.
Learn more about the CST project and the impact of CST Cerner across British Columbia.
