About the eReferral Repository

The eHealth Centre of Excellence’s  Ontario eServices Program and Ontario Health (OH) have been working in partnership to establish an eReferral Repository. The eReferral data is stored within Ontario Health and used by authorized OH personnel for a number of purposes, including to support broader health system planning. 

The Process

The eReferral data sent through Ocean eReferral is collected and stored in the provincial Repository beginning March 31, 2023. 

As a Prescribed Entity under PHIPA, OH is permitted to collect this data. However, as a Health Information Custodian (HIC), the disclosure of the eReferral data is discretionary at this time, and therefore requires explicit consent.

Enabling Data Collection

• All Ontario eServices (eReferral) Program participants who are Health Information Custodians (HICs) are being asked to sign an amendment to the Health Information Network Provider (HINP) agreement that was initially signed when they joined the program / eReferral network. Note: In many cases, one signing authority signs on behalf of a group of clinicians.

• Data will flow into the eReferral Repository after the receiving site has signed the amending agreement and the Repository flow has been initiated from within the system.

• There is no retrospective collection of this data (e.g., only eReferral data from the time the Amending HINP Agreement is signed will be contributed).  

• No data will be collected from non-HIC (Health Information Custodian) participants receiving referrals. 

• Those impacted will receive direct communication regarding the individual action necessary to contribute data to the eReferral Repository.  

If you have additional questions, email us at [email protected].