Regional health information networks--the mode of the future is present reality

As the roles of physicians and hospitals in providing patient care become increasingly integrated, a move has begun to consolidate the traditionally disparate elements of clinical information into single, unified patient records--which until recently were relatively non-existent. Inmovative applications of information technology make the creation of integrated patient records possible. Network communication is predicted to become the standard method for health care providers to share clinical information from many locations. Networking is giving rise to regional health care information systems. One regional network -- Health Data Network, based in Louisville, Ky-is described in detail.