| More independent physicians are partnering with | | | | orders to be viewed instantly by physicians either |
| their local hospitals to deliver efficient care to | | | | at their practices or at the community hospital. |
| patients. These doctors and hospitals are | | | | McKesson, leading health care information |
| employing a range of new information sharing | | | | technology provider, has several information |
| technologies in order to facilitate access to patient | | | | sharing products in their line that have proven |
| information. | | | | popular with community hospitals and physicians |
| Without the aid of information sharing technology, | | | | alike. Ten community hospitals have adopted |
| hospitals and doctors often need to contact one | | | | programs such as Paragon Community Hospital |
| another to ensure they have all the necessary | | | | Information System (HIS) and Practice Partner |
| information to prescribe treatment. This can lead | | | | Electronic Health Records (EHR) in the last 12 |
| to delays in treatment due to the waiting time for | | | | months. |
| the transfer of patient information. | | | | York Hospital in Maine and San Gorgonio Memorial |
| Information sharing networks eliminate this | | | | Hospital in California are just a few of the |
| downtime by allowing physicians in private practice | | | | hospitals that have found the use of information |
| and those in community hospitals to access all | | | | sharing technology helpful, enabling them to offer |
| records pertaining to a specific patient instantly. | | | | safer, more efficient care to their patients. These |
| This also diminishes the risk of valuable | | | | programs generally work with the hospital's |
| information being forgotten or omitted. Patient | | | | existing electronic infrastructure and are therefore |
| allergies to medications and previous treatment | | | | easy to implement and use. |
| information are particularly relevant to physicians | | | | The ready sharing of information can also help to |
| when trying to prescribe treatment. With new | | | | strengthen bonds among medical professionals. |
| information sharing systems, doctors have a | | | | New technologies are reducing the barriers to |
| more reliable source to turn to for these types of | | | | information between physician practices and |
| information. | | | | hospitals and creating a larger sense of |
| Integrated technology systems also facilitate | | | | community among those involved with patient |
| physician workflow efficiency. Care providers can | | | | care. |
| electronically submit laboratory and radiology | | | | |