Lowcountry Hospitals Collaborate With Records Exchange

Local hospitals have announced a broad information-sharing collaboration to get critical patient information to emergency room doctors. 

The Carolina eHealth Alliance (CeHA) announced Tuesday that 11 emergency departments at Charleston-area hospitals have linked patient information through electronic medical records.

"All of our emergency departments have had instances where a patient is incapacitated and cannot discuss symptoms or medical history," said Karen Kriza, director emergency services at Trident Health.

Through the exchange, the ERs can quickly locate information like medical history, past test results and medications and drug allergies.

"That allows us to provide effective treatment more rapidly," Kriza said.

Participating emergency departments include:

• East Cooper Medical Center
• Medical University of South Carolina
• Roper St. Francis Healthcare
• Trident Health
• Naval Health Clinic Charleston (May 2012)
• Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center (Summer 2012)

Roper St. Francis Healthcare President and CEO David Dunlap said the next step will be expanding the program to hundreds of other physicians across the Lowcountry.

"This is a connectivity of healthcare that has never existed, and it’s been made possible through the collaborative spirit of the local health providers," Dunlap said.

MUSC President Ray Greenberg noted that early studies of the system have shown patients have saved an average of 29 minutes during a visit, estimating the savings to patients and providers will be in the millions of dollars.

"Thanks to multiple generous grants from The Duke Endowment, and the enthusiastic response from all of the local hospitals, we have been able to achieve a real win for the Charleston community that is sustainable," said Greenberg.