On Thursday, 11 Oklahoma City hospitals announced that they have joined a network that will let them share electronic health records of patients in their emergency departments, the Oklahoman reports.
The EHR network, which will be up and running by September, will allow the hospitals' ED physicians to share:
- Patient demographics;
- Medications;
- Allergies and reactions;
- Diagnosis history;
- Laboratory results;
- Procedures;
- Immunizations; and
- Health providers.
Participating hospitals are all members of the Greater Oklahoma City Hospital Council, an affiliate of the Oklahoma Hospital Association.
David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Norman Regional Health System and chair of the council, said, "Allowing information to be shared instantaneously will reduce the need for unnecessary tests and procedures, avoid injuries caused by known medical allergies and reactions and improve overall outcomes."
Technology
The hospitals will use the Cherokee County Health Services Council's Secure Medical Records Transfer Network technology to link all of the hospital EDs.
The technology has been reviewed and tested by 14 privacy officers and security experts and is the same system used by financial institutions, the Oklahoman reports.
Craig Jones, president of the Oklahoma Hospital Association, said the group hopes to expand the EHR network to no-cost community clinics and areas beyond Oklahoma City (Stafford, Oklahoman, 5/9).