B.C. Digital Health Strategy
Last updated on March 26, 2025The B.C. government is working with the Provincial Health Services Authority and regional health authorities to modernize technologies and develop more connected systems across the province, creating better access to health care.
On this page
- About digital health
- B.C.'s Digital Health Strategy
- Guiding principles
- Key goals and improvements
- Empowering patients
- Improving provider experience
- Establishing a connected health system
- Modernizing business systems
- Who we are and our partners
- Contact us
About digital health
Digital health uses technology and digital tools to connect different parts of health care. Digital tools help people manage their health and wellbeing, and allow clinics and hospitals to share information and provide better care.
Digital health makes it easier to:
- Access your health information
- Connect with health care providers
- Organize health information so you can get health care when you need it
All health information stays in one secure place, making it easier for both patients and providers to work together for better health outcomes.
B.C.'s Digital Health Strategy
The B.C. Digital Health Strategy (PDF, 3.2MB) aims to:
- Enable a modern health care system that meets the needs of all people, communities and populations of B.C.
- Make sure health systems across B.C. work together on and invest in digital health solutions
- Create a connected health system where health information is secure and easy to access
- Learn from past experiences to solve new health care challenges
The strategy's vision and goal give the direction for digital health in B.C.
Vision
Digital health services, tools and processes support a connected, safe and trusted health system that empowers all users and addresses population needs.
Goal
A digitally enabled health system trusted by all who use it.
Guiding principles
These principles guide the work underway in developing digital health solutions across the health system in B.C.
Equity and inclusion
Create culturally safe and appropriate access to health care services for everyone in the province. This includes meeting the needs of B.C.’s marginalized communities and Indigenous Peoples.
Provincial mindset
Collaborate with health partners across B.C. to make sure health care needs are met everywhere in the province.
System optimization
Make systems better to improve workflow and simplify administrative processes.
Progress over perfection
Use resources and existing systems wisely to meet B.C.’s digital health goals.
Innovation ​
Flexibility and openness to new digital health tools and technology.
Future focused
Plan and invest in digital solutions for long-term improvements in health care.
Key goals and improvements
The B.C. Digital Health Strategy has 4 broad goals for making a digitally integrated health system:
- Empowering patients
- Improving provider experience
- Establishing a connected health system
- Modernizing business systems
Empowering patients
Vision: Patients are empowered to be active participants in their health journey.
Goal: Patients can easily connect with health care services and use secure digital tools to access their health information. This lets them take control of their health care, choosing when, how and where they receive personalized care they can trust.
What it means for you
- Digital health tools and services make it easier to find the information and resources you need to manage your health better
- You will have more control over health information with easy access to your secure health results
- You can choose when, where and how you interact with your health care providers using digital health tools
Our work
- Align access across virtual care platforms and health information
- Build trust and ease of use in digital tools and content
- Use digital and virtual health tools to improve navigation and access to care
Current projects
Health Gateway
Health Gateway is an online portal that gives people secure access to their health records, including:
- Lab results
- Test results
- Immunization records
- Medical imaging
- Medication lists
- Cancer screening letters and results
B.C. continues to add new features and health information through feedback from patients and providers.
Virtual Care BC
Virtual care makes online health care available across the province in a standard way. This ensures:
- Health care providers follow B.C. guidelines
- Patient information is properly shared
- Follow-up care is coordinated
Other services
- HealthLink BC provides virtual and telehealth support for patients who cannot visit health care facilities
- Remote Patient Monitoring lets people with ongoing health conditions receive care from home
Improving provider experience
Vision: Health care providers will have tools, capabilities and support to meet the growing needs of today and tomorrow.
Goal: Digital access to information reduces paperwork, giving health care providers more time to give better care to more patients.
What it means for you
For health care providers, easy-to-use digital tools will:
- Show complete patient history
- Make it simple to order health services
- Let them share important information with other providers
- Help them work better with others involved in patient care
Our work
- Find ways to effectively use new digital tools together with current practices
- Use technology to improve care delivery, workflows and existing digital practices
- Provide education to promote and use new systems and programs
Current projects
Provincial Attachment System
The Provincial Attachment System supports a coordinated approach to connecting people and primary care providers, like family doctors or nurse practitioners. People in B.C. who need a health care provider can use the Health Connect Registry to connect with the right one.
Longitudinal Record Access
This project will allow health care providers to easily access complete health records in one system.
CareConnect
CareConnect is a province-wide digital health record viewer. Health care providers use it to view patient information, even from different health regions.
Work is being done to improve CareConnect and make it easier to share patient information across different care services, and between primary, community care and specialists.
Establishing a connected health system
Vision: A connected health care system uses digital tools, allowing for easy and secure sharing of health data. This gives both patients and providers a more positive experience with the health system.
Goal: Systems and tools work together smoothly, making everyday tasks simpler and more efficient.
What it means for B.C.
- More seamless and consistent experiences across different care services
- Health care providers will use data to make better decisions
- Faster care, easier decision-making and improved health outcomes
Our work
- Collaborate with different health regions and care providers at all levels of care
- Establish industry standards to guide shared solutions
- Support secure and efficient sharing of health information across the province
Current projects
Provincial clinical information systems
All health authorities are working together to improve medical record systems. They’re creating a way for care providers to access medical records across different health care locations.
Digital referrals and orders
We're developing digital tools that help doctors and patients securely share health information. Health care providers will use electronic referrals and orders more consistently. This will replace paper forms and faxes.
ImmsBC
B.C.'s vaccination system helps manage immunizations for both COVID-19 and influenza through one simple platform.
You can:
- Register and book immunization appointments
- Get appointment reminders
- Access your immunization records
- Report side effects
Health care workers can:
- Track vaccine supplies
- Record immunizations given
- Monitor immunization programs
Modernizing business systems
Vision: Efficient business processes are enabled by modern, secure and robust systems and solutions.
Goal: Core business systems and processes work together smoothly to save time and money.
What it means for B.C.
- More efficient business systems that are easier to use and navigate
- Simplified data sharing and analytics processes
- Critical and sensitive data will be protected by modernized and secure systems
Our work
- Collaborate with health partners across B.C. to integrate and improve business systems, such as hiring, procurement and finance
- Modernize B.C.’s health care supply chain by improving data flow, asset tracking and analytics
- Build modern, secure systems to protect health data
Current projects
Provincial coordinated recruitment
We're creating a more coordinated way to hire health care workers across the province. This includes:
- A new system to track and manage job applications and support province-wide planning of the workforce
- A single job board for all health authorities
- Better marketing
- Help with licences and immigration
Human capital management system
We're setting up a new human resource (HR) and payroll system for all health organizations in the province. Workers will have a single HR record that follows them throughout their career in B.C. This will also help us make better decisions about staffing and investments in health care.
HealthLink BC digital update
HealthLink BC is improving its systems and online services. See examples below.
- Systems: patient records, knowledge base and decision support solutions
- Online services: after-hours coverage and provincial prescription renewal support
Did you know?
B.C.'s Digital Health Strategy follows the Pan-Canadian Interoperability Roadmap, which helps guide Canada Health Infoway's plan to connect health care systems across all provinces and territories.
Who we are and our partners
The Digital Health Strategy was commissioned by the B.C. Ministry of Health and is led by Provincial Digital Health Leadership from the Provincial Health Services Authority and the B.C. Ministry of Health. Contributions from our health partners make the Digital Health Strategy possible. Our partners include:
- Patients and providers across community and regional health authorities
- First Nations Health Authority
- Doctors of BC and health professional organizations
​Contact us
For more information on B.C.’s Digital Health Strategy, email DigitalHealth@gov.bc.ca.