In recent years, the use of digital technology has supported widespread sharing of electronic health care data. Although this approach holds considerable promise, it promises to be a complicated and expensive undertaking.

This study described the development and implementation of a community wide system for electronic sharing of summary health care utilization data in Syracuse, New York. It demonstrates how this system is providing simple, low cost data concerning acute care, emergency medical services, long term care, and mental health programs that have improved the efficiency of the community’s health system.

Reprinted from BioMed Central Ltd.