Lowcountry hospitals organize record exchange

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Organizers of a new program allowing hospitals in the Charleston area to exchange emergency room medical records electronically says it is saving time for patients and money for the health care system.

Officials from East Cooper Medical Center, the Medical University of South Carolina, Roper-St. Francis Health Care and Trident Health System will discuss the new program with the media Tuesday.

The exchange of records is part of the work of the Carolina eHealth Alliance.

South Carolina Hospital Association President Thornton Kirby says the alliance and the electronic record sharing is on the leading edge of health care.

The association says there are also electronic record exchange programs in Columbia and Greenwood.