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Patients at Niagara Health are among the first in the province who can access their diagnostic records such as an x-ray, CT scan, MRI, or ultrasound through Ontario trusted account (OTA), a unique patient digital identity service on the Niagara Health Navigator mobile app. Click here to view the OTA website.

Similar to the ease of online banking, patients can view and manage their diagnostic records from the convenience of their mobile device and can choose to securely share access with family members, family doctors, specialists and other care providers.

This is powered by PocketHealth, a service that receives digital diagnostic records from the hospital, organizes them in a secure account and stores them for patients to access at a small fee.

PocketHealth is one of the first services to integrate with Ontario trusted account, a larger patient digital identity initiative that is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and is led by Niagara Health. The Ontario trusted account is a patient digital identity service that makes it easier to access personal health information by connecting patients to health services through one single digital ID.

Digital identity is a key enabler for the Digital First for Health Strategy and a key focus area for the government's overall Digital Identity strategy. The Digital First for Health strategy will enable system integration and the sharing of information so that patients receive seamless care.

Niagara Health is leading this initiative in partnership with Southlake Regional Health Centre to build the Ontario trusted account. The two hospitals have also brought on St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton and North York General to bring this solution to more patients.

Niagara residents who are interested can sign up for an Ontario trusted account and access their diagnostic records through the Niagara Health Navigator mobile app on the App Store or Google Play, or through the PocketHealth website.