"The amount of hours that staff used to spend tracking down paper charts was tremendous," said Dr. Rick Williams.

But now that process is instantaneous.

Friday St. John's Hospital put its computerized medical records system online.

This comes after months of training with doctors and hospital employees.

"It may not save me time immediately, but it saves patients time.  It saves redundant tests.  It saves medication errors.  It saves having to collect the same paper forms over and over again," said Dr. Williams.

He says when seconds matter, this system can save lives.

"Now, we have one record for every patient.  So, it doesn't matter where that patient is seen in the St. John's system.  That same record follows them everywhere," said Dr. Williams.

Even congressman Roy Blunt visited the hospital Friday to see how the technology will benefit doctors and patients.

"This is an area where we really can put quality into the system," said Blunt.

The congressman says he would like to see the medical records system standardized, so that hospitals in this state can talk to hospitals in other states.  That way there's never a gap in information.

Diagnosis descriptions, charts, and progress reports will also close the gap between physicians and their patients.

"A paper record used to be like a closed book to patients.  We weren't very good at sharing that information.  Now, we can share everything," said Williams.

It's expected in the future patients will even be able to log in in from their home computer to make appointments, view their personal health records, and see test results.

Hospital administrators say an entire department is dedicated to protecting your personal information.
 

**Story ideas or comments?  Email me at wcarter@kspr.com