FAQs
ERS is available to Healthquest EMR users who are enabled on CII. For more information about how ERS works in the Healthquest EMR please visit the Healthquest support site at Healthquest Knowledge Base.
What is ERS?
ERS is a multi-system IT initiative designed to:
- reduce surgical wait times to clinically appropriate standards
- significantly decrease number of Albertans waiting for surgery
ERS is being developed in a phased approach that will add functionality, EMR vendors and additional specialties over time. When fully implemented, ERS will enable:
- Referring providers to submit referrals to specialty providers and track their status directly from their Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or Clinical Information System (CIS)
- Specialty providers to receive, accept and return reports directly from their EMR/CIS
- Patients to have the ability to track the status of their referrals through their MyHealth Alberta Account
What is CII?
CII/CPAR is the chosen vehicle to integrate community EMRs with two-way data flow. Community Information Integration (CII) is a system that transfers select patient information between community Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and other members of the patient’s care team through Netcare
For further information: What is CII?
For further information: What is CII?
Why is CII required?
CII enables information transfer from provider EMR to Netcare. This allows for the information exchange necessary for referrals to be submitted electronically rather than using a fax.
Who can send referrals electronically?
Who can send referrals electronically?
- Any provider ((Physician, Locum, Nurse Practitioner) can submit referrals electronically as long as they are CII enabled.
- Please note that Locums must be CII enabled at each clinic they are covering in order to submit referrals electronically
Who can send referrals electronically?
- Any provider (physician, locum, nurse practitioner) can submit referrals electronically as long as they are CII enabled.
- Please note that locums must be CII enabled at each clinic they are covering in order to submit referrals electronically.
How is a provider added to CII?
Why is participation limited to users of Healthquest EMR?
Healthquest was chosen as the pilot EMR. There are plans to expand to additional EMRs.
Which type of referrals can be sent electronically?
- New referrals for surgical specialties that are part of the Facilitated Access for Specialized Treatment, or FAST program.
- Specialties included in FAST can be found here.
- New urology referrals can be sent directly to Edmonton FAST Urology through Healthquest EMR.
Why are electronic submissions limited to FAST referrals?
FAST referrals are enabled for electronic submission. Work is underway to include other referral types.
Why are edit and update functionality not available?
Edit and update functionality are under development and will be available later in 2026.
How are referral edits and updates submitted?
Edits and updates can be submitted to the FAST team following current clinic processes.
Who do I call for help?
- Call your EMR vendor for technical issues with the referral within the EMR
- For other issues, contact the eHealth Services Contact Centre or the FAST team that the referral was submitted to: The FAST contact information can be found here.
How do I know FAST received the referral?
ERS sends back an eReferral ID number that will populate in the EMR. This indicates that FAST has received the referral and is working on it.
How does the clinic communicate with FAST after the referral has been submitted?
Communicate with the FAST team using the current clinic process.
How does the clinic communicate with the specialist?
Communicate with the specialist using the current clinic process.
Is there training material?
What type of information is available in My Personal Record (MPR) and MyChart?
- Referral status for eReferrals are visible in My Personal Records
- Referral information in MyChart is based on information from Connect Care. For more information on MyChart,: MyChart for Users FAQ
