A comprehensive clinical information system (CIS) is the foundation of a connected health care system. It replaces paper patient charts across hospitals with shared digital health records. It helps prescribers and clinicians store, find and update patient information in one place.

Alongside the system and the comprehensive health records maintained within it, standardized clinical documentation and revised clinical workflows help make care safer, faster, and more reliable.

In partnership with healthcare leaders and frontline teams, Symbio will build on the CIS to drive improvements in how care is coordinated and advance key initiatives that simplify clinical workflows, strengthen teamwork, and help patients experience more connected care.

Symbio respects the Official Languages Act. Details will be available after the procurement process is completed.

Symbio will bring a common clinical information system (CIS) that will become the source of truth for the majority of acute hospital information in New Brunswick. Symbio’s CIS will be the main tool used by hospital-based prescribers and clinicians (in acute, ambulatory, and emergency departments across the province), to chart, access and enter patient information, order diagnostic tests, etc.

However, Symbio does not mean only one system across the province. While a provincial CIS will eventually replace many legacy systems, some older systems will continue to operate, either in integration with the provincial CIS, or alongside it. As our systems become increasingly connected over time, we’ll continue to introduce more sophisticated tools that make health care delivery more efficient, that enable technical teams to better support prescribers and clinicians, and that ensure all hospitals, big or small, urban or rural, provide high-quality care.

Symbio is led through a strong partnership between the Department of Health, the Regional Health Authorities and Service New Brunswick.

Clinical leaders and subject matter experts from across the province (including across specialties, zones and regions) are supporting planning, decision-making and implementation through advisory committees, clinical working groups and focus groups. This collaborative approach helps ensure that all aspects of the program reflect both best practices as well as the unique needs of different specialities and regions.

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While some refinement is still underway regarding the program’s full scope, we do know that it will be implemented in hospitals (acute, ambulatory, emergency) for both inpatient and outpatient units.

Information on timelines for the program rollout will not be available until after the procurement process has been completed. Details on which sites will implement Symbio and when, will be shared when they become available.

Yes. Keeping health information private and secure is critical. The new system will protect patient information and will be accessible only to authorized clinicians. Privacy and security can be more efficiently monitored with digital health records than with paper health records.

Access to MyHealthNB will continue. Symbio will expand the information and tools available to patients, empowering them to stay informed and engaged in their health and wellness.

Yes. Any clinical staff, support services staff, administrative staff, and operational staff who require access to patient health records in their role will receive comprehensive training prior to go-live.

Additional support will also be available during and immediately after go-live to ensure ongoing learning and patient safety through the transition.

The future operating model will ensure ongoing support for frontline users through continuous learning, hands-on training, and access to the right information, helping teams to work efficiently and confidently within the new system.