The Physician Information Technology Office (PITO) is an outcome of the 2006 Agreement, Appendix C, where the provincial government and the BC Medical Association agreed to work collaboratively to "co-ordinate, facilitate and support information technology planning and implementation for physicians... including the development and implementation in British Columbia of standardized systems of electronic medical records (EMR)."
The $107.8m project supports physicians preparing for and adopting EMRs and provides reimbursement of up to 70% of the eligible costs.
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are one of seven essential elements of British Columbia's long term vision for the integration of information and communications into the health care system as outlined in the province's e-Health Strategic Framework of November 2005. The other six components are:
PITO is governed by a Steering Committee of three practicing physicians appointed by the BCMA and three representatives appointed by the provincial government, and acts on a consensus basis. It reports to the e-Health Steering Committee, which in turn reports to the BC Health Leadership Council, comprised of CEOs from BC health authorities and senior executives from the MOH.
PITO in BC is preceded in Alberta and Ontario by the Physician Office System Project (POSP) and OntarioMD.