Edmonton's health authority hopes its new database will help eliminate unnecessary medical tests and serve as a model for the rest of the country.

Studies in Canada and the U.S. conclude extra medical tests are a source of financial waste in the health-care system.

Doctors often see patients looking for a diagnosis even though they've already been seen at hospitals or walk-in clinics.

Dr. Dianne Brox of Edmonton says she not only has to figure out what's wrong in these situations, but also what tests they've recently had elsewhere.

"This is a huge issue for us," said Brox. "A lot of times we're repeating things, because we don't know it's been done." 

Currently, there is no central database storing such information, and patients may not be able to accurately remember what tests they've undergone and what the results were.

To help counter the problem, Edmonton's Capital Health says it will become the first major health region in Canada to introduce a new electronic health-record system.

Each person will soon have one file where all test results are entered. Any doctor will be able to access the information.

"It's a matter of getting physicians in the hospitals signed up on to the record, and making sure physicians outside of hospitals are aware of it, because their participation is voluntary," said Steve Buick, a spokesperson for Capital Health.

The region hopes any costs of the system will be more than made up for by eliminating unnecessary tests.