The HealthShare Exchange of Southeastern Pennsylvania is already bringing significant benefits to patient care in Delaware County and the region as a whole, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The nonprofit was started in 2011 through funding from area hospitals, health insurers, and state grants. It improves patient care by connecting the electronic medical record systems of different hospital and care sites, along with claims data from healthcare insurers.

The new system has become a huge help to many doctors across the region, including Dr. Karen Scoles, an internal medicine specialist with Crozer Medical Associates in Crum Lynne.

She noted that, before HSX, she was constantly frustrated by the lack of up-to-date information on patients who are either right in front of her, or whom she was trying to help over the telephone.

“I’d have no idea if a patient of mine was admitted even to one of our hospitals, and certainly I’d have no knowledge if a patient was admitted and discharged for a hospital outside the Crozer-Keystone network, but now I do,” said Scoles.

Read more about HSX in the Philadelphia Business Journal by clicking here.