Northern Health is introducing SaferCare, a project to implement a digital clinical information system and more consistent processes and practices across all our hospitals. SaferCare is an electronic health record, and so much more! It’s an expansion and integration of our existing system, already used across our facilities. The entire clinical information system supports safer, more connected health care.
These changes will begin with the following NH facilities:
- Nats’oojeh Hospital and Health Centre, Fort St. James - April 21, 2026
- Ksyen Regional Hospital, Terrace - October 2026
What you may notice during your visit
- Medical, clinical, and clerical staff learning the new digital system as part of their daily work.
- New tools, such as barcode scanners for patient ID, computers on wheeled carts or mounted to walls, and large digital dashboards.
- Extra project team members on site during the transition to support staff as they get used to the new digital system.
SaferCare team members may be working alongside staff during your visit and may see or hear details about your care. Please know they are required to follow all Northern Health privacy and confidentiality policies.
While you should experience the same level of quality care during this transition, there may be minor delays as staff get used to using the CIS in a more complete, “all in” way that replaces the paper charts and other tools and forms.
Why SaferCare?
SaferCare supports Northern Health’s goal of having more consistent processes, practices, and a clinical information system across all our hospitals. As we move towards this, our medical, clinical, and clerical staff, as well as patients and families, will start to experience benefits.
By having everything in a secure digital system, health care teams providing and managing care will have access to the information they need to ensure you receive the right care at the right time. This will enable not just in-person care, but also virtual care, and will support us going from paper-based to digital-based ways of working.
Benefits for patients
SaferCare is designed to improve the overall patient experience by supporting safer, more coordinated care.
Patients can expect:
- Stronger continuity of care: Care teams can access patient information before and during your care journey, with real-time patient and clinical information when needed.
- Increased efficiency: Less time repeating your health information to different members of the health care team, faster access to results, and fewer duplicate tests.
- Enhanced medication and ordering: The system will alert users if you have medication allergies or if a newly ordered medication will interact with a current prescription, enhancing medication safety.
- Enhanced collaboration: Team-based care planning using current information.
- Better decision-making: Relevant, current data and order sets to help guide care decisions.
- More involvement in care: Greater patient involvement in care decisions and less need to repeat information.
Improvements across Northern Health
Hospital operations staff and leaders will have better real-time data to manage patient capacity, flow, and care coordination.
Patients who receive care at other NH facilities using SaferCare can expect smoother experiences because their care teams will have access to more complete patient records.
In the future, all Northern Health hospitals will be implementing electronic documentation and Computerized Provider Order Entry.
What to expect through the transition
The SaferCare system and related practice changes are designed to enhance the patient's experience through improvements to the quality, safety, and consistency of patient care.
As with any system change, there may be temporary delays as staff adjust to new ways of working. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Privacy and security
Protecting your privacy and personal health information is one of our highest priorities.
Using SaferCare means we have the benefits of current technology, including built-in privacy and security features that meet the highest standards, as well as around-the-clock vendor monitoring and support.
Safeguards are in place to ensure that only the appropriate and required physicians, nurses, and health care staff can access your information, and only when it’s needed to provide care.
Remember – your information is safe! It’s only accessible to those who need it to provide care.
Physicians and nurse practitioners who work in Fort St. James or Terrace hospitals will be able to securely access the system from anywhere. They will receive timely access to consult reports, discharge summaries, medical imaging, and cardiology reports.
Have concerns about your care?
If you have any concerns about your care, please talk to your care team. If you feel your issue was not addressed or your complaint was not resolved, you can contact the Patient Care Quality Office directly or email the Patient Care Quality Office at patientcarequalityoffice@northernhealth.ca.