(Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, September 17, 2025) – The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) is excited to share that new technology has been implemented that will improve collaboration with Alberta Health Services (AHS) and outcomes for patients.

After successful piloting, effective immediately, diagnostic images, such as CT scans, Ultrasounds, and X-rays, can now be shared instantly from the NTHSSA to AHS physicians through a secure QR code system.  

This new process will be used when a physician in the Northwest Territories requires specialty support from a physician in Alberta, to determine the best care plan for a patient — for example, in cases involving stroke, major trauma, or potential transfer for advanced care. This is an important enhancement to our service model. Faster image sharing will support quicker consultation requests between the two jurisdictions, enabling more timely treatment decisions in cases where imaging is critical.

This improvement initiative is a step in the right direction for the health and social services system and will have positive impacts on patient care, particularly as it will allow health care providers to make better informed decisions about the need and timing of patient transfers from one facility to another.

While this system has been implemented and approved for use in urgent management of patients, the NTHSSA is engaged in ongoing collaboration with stakeholders including the Government of the Northwest Territories’ Department of Health and Social Services and Alberta Health Services, to explore pathways that would allow for the release of patient information such as diagnostic images, in non-urgent and ongoing care, as well as urgent management.

Attachment: Question and Answers

What has changed regarding the sharing of diagnostic images between NTHSSA and AHS physicians?
Effective immediately, diagnostic images—such as CT scans, ultrasounds, and X-rays—can now be shared instantly from Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority to Alberta Health Services physicians using a secure QR code system.

Why is this change important?
This is a significant improvement to our service model. It allows for faster consultation between jurisdictions, which can lead to more timely treatment decisions in cases where imaging is critical.

How does the new system benefit physicians during emergency consultations?
Physicians from both jurisdictions can now simultaneously view the same diagnostic images during emergency consultations, improving communication and the quality of clinical decision-making.

What was the process like before this update?
Under the previous system, it could take several days to transfer diagnostic images between jurisdictions, which could delay diagnosis and treatment.

Who can access the diagnostic images using the QR codes?
Alberta Health Services Physicians, who are consulting on a case with a Northwest Territories Physician, can access images to support clinical decision-making in emergent situations.

How is patient privacy protected under this new system?
Patient privacy remains a top priority. The QR codes are temporary, and password protected, and expire after 24 hours, ensuring secure, time-limited access to sensitive information.

Are the images stored in both jurisdiction databases?
No. The image files remain stored only in the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority databases. They are not transferred to any Alberta Health Services database.