Washington, D.C. – Representative Heath Shuler announced today that Transylvania
Community Hospital has been awarded a rural health development grant for $540,000 over a
three-year period through the Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will be used
to further implement the local use of electronic medical records in physician offices.
This local network will allow Transylvania Community Hospital and its physicians to rapidly
and securely share patient information and public health data with area physician practices and
other members of the WNC Data Link Network. The exchange of patient data through the
network is done securely and in real-time.
“By ensuring that all of our hospitals and doctors have access to the most up-to-date,
comprehensive patient information possible, they will be able to provide the right treatment
options for patients with greater efficiency and fewer errors,” said Rep. Shuler. “Transylvania
Community Hospital and the WNC Health Network are leading the way in health technologies,
and I am proud to continue working with them to provide the best, most-efficient healthcare
available to the people of Western North Carolina.”
Transylvania Community Hospital and its medical staff serve patients in Transylvania County,
western Henderson County and a small portion of Jackson County. The grant will help establish
an electronic medical records network between area physician offices, Transylvania Community
Hospital and other hospitals in Western North Carolina. The network promises to lower patient
care costs and improve the speed and accuracy of delivering health care by providing physicians
and hospital staff with patients’ complete, real-time medical histories.
“Shared electronic medical records—by providing accurate patient information—will benefit
physicians and patients by improving the quality and safety of medical care,” said Bob Bednarek,
President and CEO of Transylvania Community Hospital. “At the same time, this electronic
network will lower patient-care costs by eliminating medical test duplication and will provide a
detailed picture of the health of the overall community. This information will help physicians
and leaders better assess the healthcare needs of the community as well as manage chronic
diseases and promote healthy lifestyles.”
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Download: Rep. Shuler Announces Health Care Technology Grant for Transylvania Community Hospital