Exploring the realities, challenges, and solutions in modernizing Québec’s health infrastructure
The digital transformation of healthcare systems has the potential to revolutionize patient care, improve efficiency, and reduce costs. In Québec, however, the current state of digital systems in hospitals illustrates a complex reality filled with challenges and missed opportunities. From fragmented software systems to frequent server outages, the road to effective digital transformation remains a bumpy one.
The Current Reality of Digital Transformation in Québec’s Healthcare
Despite significant investments in digital systems, hospitals across Québec still face numerous practical challenges when it comes to integrating technology into day-to-day operations.
Fragmentation of Systems
Patient information is often scattered across different software platforms, including:
- A system for scanned documents, which is sometimes unreliable
- Separate software for lab analysis results, pathology results, and medical imagery results
- The DSQ (Dossier santé Québec), which provides multiple patient information but might be out of sync across different medical institutions.
Server downtimes are common, making the DSQ system inaccessible to healthcare professionals during critical moments.
Operational Challenges
When digital systems fail, archived paper versions of patient records often become unavailable, leaving healthcare professionals unable to access vital information in emergencies.
Many of these systems were not designed in collaboration with doctors or healthcare workers, leading to usability issues and frequent bugs.
Security updates cause additional downtime, further disrupting hospital workflows.
Budgetary Concerns
The government’s expenditure on digital solutions has exceeded initial estimates, with projects like the Dossier santé numérique incurring an additional $42M in costs and suffering from delays.
These costly systems often fail to deliver expected results, raising questions about their value for money.
Who Is to Blame for the Current State?
Healthcare professionals often face criticism for inefficiencies in the system, yet the root cause may lie in poorly planned digital transformation processes. Inefficient systems, fragmented data, and unreliable technology place undue burdens on doctors and hospital staff, preventing them from focusing on patient care.
A Customer-Centered Approach to Digital Transformation
At Wilyx, we believe that transforming Québec’s healthcare system starts with a customer-centered approach. By working closely with healthcare personnel, we can build systems that meet their needs and address existing challenges.
Our Approach
Scoping Call: Engage stakeholders to define their requirements and gain a clear understanding of the challenges they face.
Architectural Design: Develop comprehensive architectures, including:
- Baseline architecture to assess the current state
- Target architecture to outline the desired outcomes
- Transitional architectures to map the steps required for transformation
Implementation: Identify opportunities, propose solutions, and carry out plans using the TOGAF (The Open Group Architecture Framework) methodology and Design Thinking, with a focus on maintaining a human-centered approach and meeting quality and efficiency standards.
Benefits of Our Approach
- Close collaboration with healthcare professionals ensures systems are user-friendly and practical
- A well-structured process minimizes costs and delays while adapting to changing requirements
- TOGAF, as an established standard, provides reliability and consistency in delivering high-quality results
By combining TOGAF methodology with Design Thinking, a creative and empathetic approach to problem-solving that delivers solutions tailored to human needs, our process remains both structured and centered on real-world impact.
Final Thoughts
Digital transformation in Québec’s healthcare system is not without its obstacles, but the potential benefits make it a challenge worth tackling. By adopting a customer-centered approach, organizations like Wilyx can help bridge the gap between technology and patient care, delivering solutions that are both cost-effective and impactful. With proper planning, collaboration, and execution, Québec can pave the way for a future where technology empowers healthcare rather than hinders it.
