NEW TECHNOLOGICAL INITIATIVE AIDS CLINICAL INFORMATION
SHARING BETWEEN PRIMARY CARE PRACTICES AND EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS

South Weymouth and Newton, MA - (June 19, 2007) - South Shore Hospital, Atrius Health, Epic, and MEDITECH are pleased to announce their collaboration on a technological initiative that is taking patient care and safety to a whole new level.

The Community Hospital and Physician Systems (CHAPS) initiative allows electronic sharing of clinical data between physicians in South Shore Hospital's Emergency Department and Atrius Health (the alliance of Dedham Medical Associates, Granite Medical, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, Southboro Medical Group and South Shore Medical Center). Physicians are able to electronically receive current information about an Atrius Health patient's medical history when that patient arrives at the hospital.

When a patient registers at South Shore Hospital's Emergency Department, the computer queries Atrius Health through the CHAPS system to see if there is an electronic medical record (EMR) for that patient. If there is information on the patient's medical history, such as medications taken, allergies, immunizations, or previous procedures, the physician will immediately see it on the computer screen. CHAPS keeps the primary care provider informed of the emergency department visit by sending secure electronic messages including a discharge summary. "We are proud to be the first in our region of care to provide this service outside the walls of our hospital, said Del Dixon, vice president and chief information officer at South Shore Hospital."

The CHAPS interface allows the MEDITECH EMR used at South Shore Hospital, and the EpicCare EMR used at Atrius Health to speak to one another and exchange that medical information in a quick, concise, and confidential manner. The physician is able to make an informed diagnosis, and therefore a more informed course of treatment for that patient. "This way, we know the patient's medications. It's the same with knowing the patient's allergies, especially when we are dealing with an unconscious or comatose patient," said John Benanti, MD, chair of emergency medicine at South Shore Hospital.

"Integrated care is extremely important as patients arrive in the emergency department. This is the next logical step in information sharing designed to enhance the safety of our patients, and we are pleased to be working in this collaboration," said Jeffrey Levin-Scherz, MD, chief medical officer for Atrius Health.

South Shore Hospital is the only hospital in the U.S. utilizing this system to transfer patient information to external providers.

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