FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECRETARIAT OF MANITOBA (FNHSSM)
PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (PHIMS)
PHIMS is a secure, integrated electronic public health record designed to assist public health practitioners in Manitoba to manage:
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Immunizations
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Vaccine inventory management
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Communicable disease and outbreak
In Manitoba, PHIMS is a tripartite project between Manitoba Health, First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB). Support for PHIMS has been approved by the Chiefs in Assembly as part of the Manitoba First Nations eHealth Long Term Strategy.
PHIMS is used by all public health providers in regional health authorities, Manitoba Health, nursing stations and community health centres. PHIMS replaced the provincial immunization registry (MIMS). When fully implemented, PHIMS will provide authorized health-care professionals in Manitoba with the ability to collect, share and analyze a wide range of health information that is critical for managing health problems such as SARS and other communicable diseases at the regional and provincial levels.
It is important to note that PHIMS is a secure system and users must access the system using a username and password. Remote access is also available via authorized computers at off-site clinics, schools or flu clinics via a secure service.
The PHIMS First Nations deployment team has been working collaboratively with First Nations communities deploying PHIMS. Of the 63 First Nation communities in Manitoba, 24 are included in the Phase 1 deployment. First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Health Canada, and West Region Treaty 2 and 4 Health Services are included in the Phase 1 deployment as bridging service organizations entering data on behalf of the 41 First Nations communities not included in the Phase 1 deployment.
The following diagram shows the First Nation PHIMS implementation process:
Information Sharing Agreements (ISA) are an essential part of successful tripartite deployment processes. The First Nations principles of ownership, control, access and possession (OCAP) are critical to ensuring that First Nations data is accessed appropriately and protected. First Nations Health and Social Secretariat of Manitoba (FNHSSM), Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors (MHHLS), and First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) have completed a comprehensive agreement that respects First Nations data and supports First Nations participation.
Tatenda Bwawa is the point of contact for communities involved with PHIMS. If you have any concerns, please feel free to contact Tatenda at: tbwawa@fnhssm.com
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