My recent experience as a patient being referred to a specialist is a clear example of what happens when health information systems do not speak to each other. My family physician had to spend time finding a specialist, arranging the referral and ensuring that someone communicated the appointment to me. I was then asked to provide information that was already contained in my medical record, including details on the medical issue, my current medications and other health information, because the specialist’s system could not access it. I had to download an uneditable PDF, complete it, save it, reupload it and email it back to the clinic, with no confirmation that it was received. Every time information is manually copied, reentered or emailed, there is an opportunity for my personal health data to be lost, entered incorrectly, duplicated or exposed to unnecessary privacy and security risks. Meanwhile, family physicians and their staff are spending valuable time coordinating information that should move securely and seamlessly between systems. This is the hidden cost of fragmented health information systems: more work for patients and providers, more opportunities for errors and privacy risks, and less time focused on care. We should be able to connect every visit with the information we already have using technology that exists, and systems that are already being used in other provinces and other countries successfully.