Abstract

As it currently exists, Canada's healthcare system, is not sustainable; there is no shortage of evidence to support this. A national health information infrastructure is the new bricks and mortar needed to transform the healthcare system, and hospitals must play a critical role in the development of this infrastructure. Their size, influence and concentration of expertise and resources demand it. Yet, despite efforts of hospitals to date, their work has been unable to yield substantive results. This article outlines the problems with our current system, the evidence and the current nature of change, details the reasons for the suboptimal results, and outlines new strategies that will strengthen the agenda.