{"id":891656,"date":"2026-02-11T05:17:24","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/exclusive-sante-quebec-will-still-use-paper-records-as-it-moves-to-digital-medical-files\/"},"modified":"2026-02-11T05:17:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:17:24","slug":"exclusive-sante-quebec-will-still-use-paper-records-as-it-moves-to-digital-medical-files","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/11\/exclusive-sante-quebec-will-still-use-paper-records-as-it-moves-to-digital-medical-files\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec will still use paper records as it moves to digital medical files"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=tFf76PHkVJ8L62k45Ws_1g, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=hR3Lbj21E9qU52rCxsOqyg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=7MJkzESXnh1JhGIM5KoTpA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=OsNJeAupyMenk47iC2g9Yg 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=bvidrhfivlEK1pdxq8gBFA, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=X6GydINs2AFTLjyEqRsDZQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=Jhwki34SBvSrDSHTNPLzPg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=o1v64lElBs4QAzDV_aDH4w 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=QHROgk3AwoVmz5QEyEng0w, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=LkIsuQzMxZ8YQcNzRDS1jQ 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img alt=\"Vital signs monitor\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=gYvsRq1rmuqdB8W_icN5xA\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=gYvsRq1rmuqdB8W_icN5xA,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/montrealgazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1108citySainte-Justine7617.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=nl-sqalPNF-Ma2i8tdTT6g 2x\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"1125\" width=\"1500\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>A vital signs monitor running a demo in Ste-Justine Hospital on Monday, November 7, 2016. (Dario Ayala \/ Montreal Gazette) <\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s push toward establishing digital medical records for all Quebecers \u2014 to date over budget by $135 million from initial projections \u2014 has already been scaled down, as nurses will still have to take down patients\u2019 vital signs on paper rather having the information uploaded into the computer system automatically, The Gazette has learned.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Montreal Gazette\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.5.3\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-mg-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism including thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity to engage with our commenting community and learn from fellow readers in a moderated forum.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Subscribe now to receive:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to our award-winning journalism including thought-provoking columns by Allison Hanes, Josh Freed and Bill Brownstein.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity to engage with our commenting community and learn from fellow readers in a moderated forum.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Montreal Gazette ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, where you can share and comment..<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>There with you then. Here with you now. As a critical part of the community for over 245 years,The Gazette continues to deliver trusted English-language news and coverage on issues that matter. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In August 2023, in what was then hailed as a \u201cmajor milestone,\u201d former Health Minister Christian Dub\u00e9 announced that the government had awarded a contract to Epic Systems, based in Wisconsin, to deploy a system of digital health records in two pilot projects. The goal was that within two years, Epic Systems would successfully deploy electronic records in the CIUSSS du Nord-de-l\u2019\u00cele-de-Montr\u00e9al, overseeing Sacr\u00e9-Coeur, Jean-Talon and Fleury hospitals; and in the CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Qu\u00e9bec, also in charge of several hospitals.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>More than two years later, however, Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec has postponed the start-up date of the pilot projects until May 9, four months from now. What\u2019s more, the price tag has soared from the original figure of $268 million in 2022 to $402 million today. Of that sum, nearly $280 million has already been spent, according to the latest government tally on its <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"information resources project dashboard\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.tableaudebordprojetsri.gouv.qc.ca\/tableau-de-bord\/projet\/87140588\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tableaudebordprojetsri.gouv.qc.ca\/tableau-de-bord\/projet\/87140588\">information resources project dashboard<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>Yet despite the significant investment thus far, the pilot projects do not have the budgets to acquire vital-signs monitors that have the capability of uploading patient data \u2014 with the exception of those in intensive-care units. The oversight recalls the massive cost overruns in launching the <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"SAAQclic website\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/opinion\/hanes-long-rocky-road-to-digital-transformation-in-quebec\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/opinion\/hanes-long-rocky-road-to-digital-transformation-in-quebec\">SAAQclic website<\/a>\u00a0for vehicle permits.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want to do away with all the paper, right?\u201d a senior government source told The Gazette. \u201cThat\u2019s why you\u2019re bringing in electronic health care records. But they didn\u2019t have the budget to buy the monitoring equipment to electronically transmit vital signs information from patients. So nurses are still going to have to walk around with paper recording people\u2019s vital signs, and then manually put them into the system.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s completely stupid,\u201d added the source, who agreed to being interviewed on condition of anonymity to discuss the issue candidly. \u201cSo that\u2019s just one example of downscoping,\u201d the term used in the information technology industry for projects that are scaled down to cut expenses.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Establishing provincewide digital health records had bedevilled the Quebec government long before Dub\u00e9 made his announcement in 2023. More than a decade ago, in November 2014, former Liberal health minister Ga\u00e9tan Barrette acknowledged that setting up digital health records was \u201ca disaster\u201d even then, with the provincial and federal governments having spent $1.6 billion on the initiative in Quebec since 2001.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In October, Barrette suggested that Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec had no choice but to delay the two pilot projects because it had not yet tested how various laboratory equipment would interact with Epic\u2019s software.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In a statement, Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec defended the decision to exclude vital signs monitors from the pilot projects, known in French as Dossier sant\u00e9 num\u00e9rique (DSN).<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/montrealgazette.com\/news\/local-news\/exclusive-sante-quebec-will-still-use-paper-records-as-it-moves-to-digital-medical-files\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A vital signs monitor running a demo in Ste-Justine Hospital on Monday, November 7, 2016. (Dario Ayala \/ Montreal Gazette) Article content Sant\u00e9 Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s push toward establishing digital medical records for all Quebecers \u2014 to date over budget by $135 million from initial projections \u2014 has already been scaled down, as nurses will still have<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":891657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[365,120985],"tags":[6246,148092],"class_list":{"0":"post-891656","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-exclusive","8":"category-sante","9":"tag-exclusive","10":"tag-sante"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891656","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=891656"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/891656\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/891657"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=891656"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=891656"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=891656"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}