Paper-based health information has always been shared -- through inefficient means like fax and courier.  Technology can help us do the job more quickly, efficiently, and effectively.

Much of the healthcare community is now using computers and other advanced technology in the treatment of patients, generating valuable data for the multiple doctors and nurses who frequently treat a single patient.  New federal and state legislation ensures that the adoption of technology will only accelerate.  However, until now, that data has not been easy to share, leading to inadequately coordinated care, duplicative tests and procedures, medical mistakes, and cost inefficiency.  Fortunately, this is changing.

CRISP will enable , for example, the doctors and nurses treating you in a hospital emergency department to access a list of the prescriptions you take, whether they were filled at your local pharmacy, or at the hospital, or across the state.  The result will be safer, more effective care.

Over time, as all of the health information systems across the state become interoperable and share data, the benefits to patients and providers alike will be significant.