Almonte General Hospital & Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Join TOH-Atlas Alliance to Launch Epic Digital Health Record System
August 08, 2025
Epic System Will Improve Access, Coordination, and Patient Care Across
Eastern Ontario
Almonte and Carleton
Place, ON – The Mississippi
River Health Alliance (MRHA) is proud
to announce that its two hospitals – Almonte General Hospital
(AGH) and Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital (CPDMH) –
have
officially joined the Atlas Alliance partnership, a collaboration of 16 Eastern Ontario hospitals and
health care partners implementing Epic, one of the world’s most advanced
digital health record systems. Led by The Ottawa Hospital (TOH), this
initiative will transform how care is delivered across Eastern Ontario by
enabling seamless, real-time access to patient health information.
This new system will allow
clinicians at both hospitals to securely share and access patient records
across the region, improving continuity of care and reducing unnecessary
duplication.
“A partnership with Atlas Alliance is in the best long-term interests of
our hospitals, patients, staff, physicians, and communities,” said Brad
Harrington, President and CEO of MRHA. “One system across the region will give
our care teams access to real-time patient information, leading to faster
decisions, safer care, and a better experience for patients.”
The Epic system also includes
MyChart, a secure online portal that gives patients access to their medical
records, test results, appointment information and more, from their computer or
mobile device.
MRHA is one of seven
organizations participating in the next phase of the Epic rollout. Once fully
implemented, the system will connect millions of patients and thousands of
health care professionals across Eastern Ontario through a single, unified
digital health record.
“This is the right next step
to advance how we care for our patients and communities,” said Dr. Melanie
Fortune, Chief of Staff, Almonte General Hospital. “Epic removes barriers for collaboration
with our regional colleagues and helps patients be more connected with their
care using MyChart.”
In addition to enhancing
continuity of care, the system will also streamline how physicians access
critical patient information, reducing duplication and improving efficiency.
“Epic gives physicians access
to the right information at the right time,” added Dr. Allyson Champagne, Chief
of Staff at Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital. “It means fewer
gaps, fewer delays, and a smoother, more coordinated care experience for
patients.”
Implementation planning is
already underway, with the system expected to go live at AGH and CPDMH in late
2026.
“The Atlas Alliance is
excited to welcome MRHA to the partnership,” said Glen Kearns, Executive
Vice-President and Chief Digital Officer at The Ottawa Hospital. “This addition
supports regional alignment and collaboration, which are key to improving the
patient journey across Eastern Ontario.”
This implementation
represents a significant investment of time and resources for both hospitals. MRHA leadership
acknowledges that a transformation of this scale will have short-term impacts
on local programs and workflows and remains committed to managing the
transition thoughtfully and transparently.
This decision follows a
detailed planning and cost analysis process. An independently reviewed study
confirmed that joining the Atlas Alliance platform is the most sustainable and
forward-looking option for MRHA.
The organization also
acknowledges and appreciates its long-standing partnership with the Grey Bruce
Information Network (GBIN), which has played a key role in supporting the
hospitals’ digital systems to date.
To learn more about MRHA’s latest
news and developments, visit www.MRHA.ca.
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Media Contact:
Caitlin O’Hara, Communications Lead
Mississippi River Health Alliance
613-621-9638
caohara@mrha.ca
About the Mississippi River Health
Alliance (MRHA)
The Mississippi River Health Alliance (MRHA) was
formed in 2016 to formalize and strengthen collaboration between the Almonte
General Hospital Corporation—which includes Almonte General Hospital (AGH),
Fairview Manor (FVM), and the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS)—and the
Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital Corporation (CPDMH). This
partnership delivers seamless, high-quality healthcare that addresses the
evolving needs of local communities. Together, the MRHA is building an
integrated healthcare system that provides comprehensive care close to home,
enhancing access and improving health outcomes throughout the region. For more
information visit MRHA.ca.