Healthcare providers in Central Illinois can now share medical information more easily.  That’s the message from the non-profit Central Illinois Health Information Exchange.  The group launched its All-Charts system that allows hospitals, health clinics and other providers to exchange medical records and consent forms electronically.  Steve Riney is with Methodist Medical Center.  He says the network allows hospitals to see a more complete medical record for patients:

“Pulled together in one logical view so that the clinician who’s taking care of you is going to get a better clinical context of what your challenges and issues are and how to treat you better and more efficiently,” Riney says.

Officials say electronic sharing means better tracking of records and means patients will wait less time for procedures if they switch providers.  The health information exchange network includes providers stretching from Shelby to Knox County.  Organizations that sign-up pay a fee to maintain the system.  Officials say they hope to expand the health information system to all areas of member providers in the coming weeks.