Where does OSCAR in Alberta go from here?

The billing module works really well.  We find new little glitches here and there, but I'm happy to report that the vendor is very responsive and usually has any glitches fixed literally within minutes - hours at the most.

So now - we just have to get a Lab module built for OSCAR in Alberta.  This will bring OSCAR up to normal functionality compatible with the rest of the Country's OSCAR capabilities.

BUT the POSP office has essentially disallowed this unless OSCAR becomes something called "VCUR compliant".

Officially, "VCUR" stands for Vendor Compliance and Usability Requirements.

This is a set of functional, technical, security and privacy requirements for an EMR solution developed through a process of stakeholder consultation that was led by the POSP (Physician Office System Program).

Overall - the idea is totally reasonable.  BUT - the idea appears to have become corrupted by a bloated bureaucracy without a rudder.

VERY recently, the POSP program appears to have been suspended for new users.

See: http://tinyurl.com/d6v9zzx

What does this mean for a new EMR Vendor to want to get OSCAR "VCUR certified" so that Alberta Health Services will allow Lab uploads into OSCAR?  Nobody knows.


Having said that, we have had the VCUR manual reviewed by Professional programmers, and it should not be too unreasonable to ensure that OSCAR adheres to the VCUR requirements.  The process of getting OSCAR VCUR certified, however, will probably require the cooperation of high level Government Personnel and the support of the AMA.  One way or another, we'll get the support we need.