Preface 

This is the first edition of CSA Z8005, Special requirements for digital infrastructure and digital health care technologies in Canadian health care facilities. The adoption and implementation of digital infrastructure and digital health care technologies is crucial to ensure sustainability and quality improvement for Canada’s health care system. However, knowledge about the right implementation strategies to pursue and how to incorporate these strategies into the existing technological infrastructure is not always clear or easy to find. This Standard is intended to provide guidance on the digital infrastructure and digital health care technologies used in health care facilities. CSA Group acknowledges that the development of this Standard was made possible, in part, by the financial support of the governments of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon as administered by the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH). Additionally, CSA Group acknowledges the contributions from West Park Healthcare Centre, Michael Garron Hospital, and St. Michael’s Hospital in the development of this Standard. This Standard was prepared by the Subcommittee on Digital Health Technologies and Infrastructure in Health Care Facilities, under the jurisdiction of the Technical Committee on Health Care Facilities and the Strategic Steering Committee on Health and Well-Being, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee. This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group. 

Scope 

1.1 General 

This Standard provides a framework for the planning, design, and implementation of foundational digital infrastructure to support current and future health care data and technologies used in HCFs. It will address common integration requirements within the HCF and opportunities across the continuum of care. It is intended to assist in determining foundational investments that will improve efficacy in care delivery across a spectrum of HCFs while prioritizing the safety, security, and privacy of both patients and staff. 

1.2 Inclusions 

This Standard applies to Class A, Class B, and Class C health care facilities. 

1.3 Exclusions 

This Standard does not specifically identify which of the technology solutions should be in place for each of the HCF types. 

1.4 Terminology 

In this Standard, "shall" is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the Standard; "should" is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and "may" is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the Standard. Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material. Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements. Annexes are designated normative (mandatory) or informative (non-mandatory) to define their application.