Connecting, simplifying, supporting: 50 years of commitment to services that can save lives
For 50 years, CGI has worked alongside governments and healthcare organizations to improve public services and make important information more accessible when it matters most. In Alberta, that commitment was reflected in the development of a digital organ and tissue donation registry that made it easier for residents to record their consent and helped healthcare teams access that information at critical moments.
In 2014, Alberta Health’s Organ and Tissue Donation Registry received an Ingenious Award for the innovative use of technology to improve public service delivery. CGI worked closely with Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services and Service Alberta to build the registry.
Before the registry was introduced, Albertans could indicate their consent to become donors on the back of their healthcare cards. However, those cards were not always available when the information was needed. The new confidential registry provided a more accessible and dependable way for residents to formally record their intent and consent to donate organs, tissue or their bodies.
The system enabled donor coordinators and tissue specialists to search for signed consent records during end-of-life situations. These records, including witness signatures, could then help provide families with clear evidence of their loved one’s wishes when the time came.
The online solution was designed and delivered in two and a half months, followed six weeks later by a registry-agent solution and additional releases approximately every two months. By the time the project received its award, more than 53,000 Albertans had registered, with approximately 400 new registrations being added each day.
By making a deeply personal decision easier to record and access, the registry demonstrated how thoughtful digital services can help ensure people’s wishes are known when they matter most.
Read the original press release here.
