Carson Health, a recognized leader of information technology in a rural hospital setting, has connected with the Great Lakes Health Information Exchange (GLHIE) enabling providers and their healthcare team to share medical information both within and outside the Carson City community.

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Especially important in small and rural communities, the GLHIE technology allows participating Carson Health providers access to critical health information facilitating better care coordination. Additionally, these healthcare providers are able to retrieve clinical and diagnostic test results from providers outside of their community in real-time to avoid duplication of tests or treatments.

"The data access provided through our relationship with Great Lakes Health Information Exchange will provide a significant benefit to the mid-Michigan patients that Carson Health serves," said Duane Miller, Senior Vice President and CFO of Carson Health.

This move will allow Carson Health providers to share or update medical information with other GLHIE healthcare providers through a secure electronic network. GLHIE has the largest network of participating hospital systems in mid-Michigan including Sparrow Health System, MidMichigan Health, Eaton Rapids Medical Center, and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital.

Carson Health is a 77 bed acute care hospital affiliated with Sparrow Health System - a founding stakeholder of Great Lakes Health Information Exchange. The addition of Carson Health providers broadens the network of mid-Michigan communities served by GLHIE.

"We will continue to partner with companies that help us better serve our patients," said Richard Terry, V.P. CIO of Carson Health, continuing, "GLHIE will help our providers exchange information for better patient care."

Carson Health has been honored in 11 out of 15 years as the Most Wired Small and Rural Hospital award for technology initiatives. They were one in only 25 hospitals recognized nationally in 2013.