The Dr. John Warner Hospital has joined a network that will allow them access to medical records from any other establishments that are a part of the program.

The city owned hospital is now a part of the Central Illinois Information Exchange. CEO of the Dr. John Warner Hospital Earl Sheehy explains any other establishments on the network can access a patients records from a database. He feels this is going to be a major convenience for patients who have to leave Clinton for some of their medical needs.

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The Dr. John Warner Hospital will be joining the Exchange with lab results and imaging results. According to Sheehy, eventually all your medical records will be shifted to the Exchange.

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The hospital by 2015 is mandated to have 100% of their medical records based electronically or they will be penalized. Sheehy says current progress for that is slow because the cost is very high.

The DJWH is also embarking on a rather expensive endeavor to correct some electrical work mandated by the Department of Health. Tune in to Regional Radio News Monday morning for more on that project.