It’s been years in the making, but come July 1 the state will begin stitching together regional health record systems—creating a network of networks—all in an effort to improve patient care. In part two of her report, Health Reporter Erin Billups takes a look at the impact on patients and doctors.
In 2005, Brookdale University Hospital transitioned to electronic health records in its emergency department. Ambulatory Care and Community Health Services Chairman Dr. Lewis Marshall oversaw the change, and says it’s had clear benefits, for example, in immediately treating people with STDs.
“Using the data we got from our electronic record every patient who came in complaining of complaints suggestive of an STD or sexually transmitted disease were evaluated, cultured, and treated at that visit,” says Dr. Marshall.