January 2026 Digital Health eTips Newsletter
Advice on EMRs and digital health tools you can use NOW
Here’s what you’ll find in this month’s issue
From the CMO
New year, new deals
A new year marks a fresh start. Whether your resolution is to upgrade your EMR, adopt an AI scribe to reclaim ‘pyjama time’, or focus on continuing professional development, OntarioMD can help!
Our best symposium pricing deal
Until January 23, we’re offering SUPER early bird pricing ($69.99) for our virtual symposium on April 24, 2026, with one goal in mind – to save you time per patient. The program includes:
- A keynote on AI and the future of care
- Debates on whether one community EMR is the answer
- Practical guidance on certification and why it matters
- Simple tools and tips to save you time
Why family physicians, specialists, and nurse practitioners should attend
- Learn practical digital health tools and workflows that save time per patient
- Earn CME credits without leaving your office
- Recorded, so you can watch and rewatch
- Dedicated content for specialists
- Amazing price!
- Send your staff to learn and implement changes in your clinic
Why OHTs and PCNs should support clinician attendance
- A value-add for clinicians in your area and great way to engage the community
- Supports adoption of provincial digital health tools
- Helps clinics in your region find extra time
- Content that benefits entire care teams, not just physicians
Why clinic staff and office managers should attend
- Learn efficient digital workflows
- Reduce rework, inbox overload, and unnecessary follow ups
- Take practical tips back to your clinic to use right away
- Sessions designed specifically for clinic staff to make your life easier
Don’t miss this affordable, ideal opportunity for teams to learn together!
Two-day in-person conference, one low price
Want an even better deal? Until January 23, get our lowest price of the season ($149.99) for our in-person conference on October 1 and 2 (Automotive Building, Exhibition Place) in Toronto.
Share your tips and expertise with peers
Eager to communicate a great concept, product, or service at the OMD Educates: Digital Health Conference? Submit an abstract for consideration. It could be groundbreaking research, a successful pilot, or a simple hack that streamlines your workday. If it’s bold, innovative, and showcases how digital health tools can transform community practices, we want to hear from you! Don’t miss your chance to engage with a spectrum of attendees – including clinicians, researchers, healthcare administrators, digital health organizations and thought leaders – at this premier event!
AI Tools
More AI tools to simplify workflows
In keeping with OMD’s leadership on helping clinicians leverage technology, we’re reviewing more AI tools to help simplify your workflows. Look for an email from us in February about another exciting AI opportunity for you to participate in!
If you haven’t already reaped the benefits of an AI tool, register for the Ontario AI Scribe Program for time-saving due diligence, competitive pricing, and free, comprehensive support.
For more information on the Ontario AI Scribe Program, visit the OMD Practice Hub for the Vendor of Record list, program video, and frequently asked questions on the Ontario AI Scribe Program.
Peer Leader Tip
OMD Peer Leaders comprise a network of over 50 physicians (family doctors, specialists), nurse practitioners, nurses and clinic managers. As expert users of OMD-certified EMRs and other digital health and virtual care tools, they work with our Advisory Service Team to help you with your EMR and digital workflows.
@Home Health Assessment form: TELUS PSS & Accuro EMRs
OMD Peer Leaders, Dr. Kellie Scott and Dr. Vineet Nair, have created EMR-compatible versions of the Health Assessment – Ontario Health atHome form (updated in 2025) for TELUS PSS and Accuro users. The form is for required patient assessments to determine eligibility for long-term care home admission.
If you’d like advice from a Peer Leader that is tailored to your clinic, please contact peer.leader.program@ontariomd.com. Discover what our Peer Leader Program and Advisory Service can do for you.
OMD Advisor Tip
Measles activity and preparedness
Ontario experienced a significant measles outbreak between October 28, 2024, and August 21, 2025, with most cases affecting youths under 20 years of age, of which 96% were unvaccinated. Seventy per cent of infected adults were unvaccinated. Clinicians are encouraged to review the immunization status for all patients born in or after 1970, confirming documentation of two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, to help prevent transmission and severe outcomes.
OMD Advisors develop useful tools and provide valuable advice to clinicians anywhere in Ontario. They can help you with provincial digital health tools, not just EMRs. Take advantage of these services, at no cost to you, before calling anyone else! Contact support@ontariomd.com for assistance.
From the General Counsel and CPO
Privacy and security in the age of AI
As AI becomes further embedded in clinical and administrative workflows, questions about privacy, accountability, and patient trust have become increasingly important. The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s Privacy Day Event, “Trustworthy AI in Health: The Promise, Perils, and Protections” on January 28, 2026, will explore these issues and examine how increasingly autonomous AI tools can support the healthcare sector while complying with PHIPA and addressing emerging risk. Physicians should consider recent IPC advice for procuring, implementing, and using AI tools, including:
- Obtaining patient consent before their use
- Being transparent about their purpose and risks with patients
- Taking reasonable steps to ensure they’re evaluated for reliability and accuracy for ongoing patient safety
OMD is updating its Privacy & Security Training Modules to reflect these considerations and evolving realities. The refreshed modules will provide practical, scenario-based guidance on the use of AI, virtual meetings, personal devices, and approved technologies, to support innovation safely without adding unnecessary burden.
HRM Improvements
Retiring of COVaxON system
Effective March 13, 2026, the Ministry of Health (MOH) will retire the COVaxON and related COVID-19 vaccine program services and consolidate them with a public health management system called Panorama. Beginning in April, administration of COVID-19 vaccines will be documented in Panorama.
What does this mean for physicians? If you’re administering COVID-19 vaccines, you must continue documenting patient and vaccine product information in COVaxON until March 13. It also means that you will no longer receive COVaxON notifications through HRM in your EMRs. More details on how this affects physicians – for example, how to access Panorama – are forthcoming from MOH.
Need help with HRM?
Read our blog post to learn how an OMD Advisor helped a clinician with quick and easy access to HRM.
Your HRM experience is important to us. We support you and your practice, at no cost to you, so don’t hesitate to contact support@ontariomd.com with any questions.
Partner News
Join eReferral Ontario today!
More than 5,000 clinicians and healthcare organizations in Ontario are already sending and receiving eReferrals. Sign up today to reduce your administrative burden and improve the quality and safety of the referral process. Learn more and sign up at eReferral I Ontario Health.
OMD Vendor Spotlight: Dr.Bill
Note: OMD Vendor Spotlights include sponsored digital health content in partnership with companies supporting the future of health care.
Sign up for “Ambiguous Billing: Cleaning Up Confusion about Holiday Billing, Combination Codes & More” on February 20, 2026. This interactive session, sponsored by Dr.Bill, will review ambiguous billing cases that create confusion for family physicians practicing under Ontario patient enrolment models. Learn how to optimize billing in these complex situations and feel free to bring your own cases to discuss!
Digital Health Advocacy and Education
Upcoming events
- Register for our Virtual Symposium and two-day Digital Health Conference with SUPER early bird pricing – only until January 23! These events offer valuable learning for everyone – physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, allied health professionals, administrative and clinic staff, and health system decision makers.
- Call for Abstracts – You can also submit an abstract to present an idea, product, or service at the in-person conference. Showcase your expertise and help your colleagues realize the benefits.
Looking for some guidance on the use of AI tools, EMRs, HRM or other technologies? OntarioMD can come and speak to your group, OHT, or PCN. Send your request to omd.events@ontariomd.com.
OMD In the News
- On December 9, Dr. Rosemarie Lall, former Peer Leader and current OMD board member and Luminary Award winner, discussed in a short interview why she champions the use of digital health tools for clinicians.
Need EMR Help?
Your EMR should be a benefit, not a burden. In addition to our OMD Advisory Service and Peer Leaders, OMD has COMPLIMENTARY resources to help you use your certified EMR better to save you time and frustration. OMD develops tools and suggests helpful workflow improvements in our EMR Lab. Find out how we can help you.
Join an EMR Community of Practice (CoP)! CoP is a virtual place for EMR and digital health tool users, including clinicians and office staff, to share their knowledge, discover upcoming changes, ask questions and learn from the vendors and other users. We invite you to join our virtual CoP on January 28, 2026, featuring the TELUS Collaborative Health Record (CHR) EMR. The session will include a demonstration of HRM Report Categorization Setup and Workflow, Find out more about OMD EMR Communities of Practice.
Important Reminders
If you plan on:
- Moving, joining or taking over a practice
- Changing internet plans or providers
- Changing EMRs
Contact support@ontariomd.com at least two (2) weeks in advance to ensure you continue to receive HRM reports.