After a two-year hiatus, the provincial Digital Referrals & Orders (DRO) program is restarting, with Vancouver Island selected as the first region for implementation. Led by PHSA, DRO uses the Ocean MD platform to support digital referrals and orders as an alternative to fax and paper-based processes. Implementation will begin with diagnostic orders (imaging and labs).
Victoria and South Island family physicians and specialists previously engaged with the DRO through our Shared Care-funded Specialist Referrals project, raising important questions to the provincial team about workflow and administrative impacts. As implementation resumes, the Division will continue to share local physician perspectives with the DRO team. If you have feedback about Ocean MD or about the DRO project, you can email Kristin Atwood, Director of Care Innovations, at [email protected].
Explore Ocean
Clinics interested in exploring Ocean MD or onboarding onto the platform can complete a short intake form. There is no cost to use Ocean MD, and Doctors of BC provides compensation for physician and clinic staff time spent on onboarding and training.
Clinics can also check whether their EMR integrates with Ocean. A separate web portal option is available for clinics without an integrated EMR.
Learn more about DRO here. Technical questions or questions about onboarding, including remuneration? Email [email protected]
