On behalf of: Senior Communications Consultant
Island Health's Medical Imaging team, under the leadership of Dr. Alan Andrew, Department Head and Medical Director of Medical Imaging, and Jeff Beresford, Operations Director, has launched a powerful new system that's reshaping how patient referrals are received and processed. Known as the Electronic Booking Solution (Novari), the system brings speed, clarity and efficiency to a process that was previously bogged down by paperwork, faxes and manual transcription.
Going live at the end of February 2026 and fully operational by early March, Novari is already showing impressive results. In many cases, what once took up to six months from the time a requisition was received to when the appointment was booked is now happening in as little as 72 hours. This acceleration means more clarity for patients, less frustration for clinicians and a more responsive health-care system overall.
“By automating referral intake and making information easier to find, we're improving access to diagnostic imaging while also giving our teams back valuable time," said Dr. Alan Andrew. “It's a meaningful step forward for patients, clinicians and the health system as a whole."
At the heart of Novari is artificial intelligence that can read and transcribe patient charts with a high level of accuracy. It pulls data from referral documents, whether they arrive via fax, paper, or digitally, and uses that information to auto-populate fields, verify patient demographics and even detect multiple referrals within a single document. As a result, medical staff who once spent hours entering information manually are now able to redirect their time and energy toward more meaningful work.
The efficiencies gained have already led to the creation of a new call centre that makes it easier for providers to follow up with patients. Physicians now have more direct access to their patient's post-referral, and patients can be kept informed with far fewer delays.
Novari's impact also extends to how requisitions are handled. The system eliminates the risk of lost or misfiled documents by digitizing everything and making it searchable. Radiologists, technologists, clerical staff and department leads can now sort referrals by modality, body part, or priority and search by patient name or number, cutting down time spent trying to track things down.
The plan is for Novari to operate in a hybrid model through April 2026 as the team completes its phased rollout. But the early signs are clear: this system is creating a more coordinated, efficient experience for everyone involved.
This implementation reflects the continued efforts of Island Health to modernize operations, improve access to care, and deliver better value for patients and providers alike.