Utilizing technology to improve quality of care

The Urban Health Initiative recently developed the ER Community Portal, a secure, web-based site that allows South Side Healthcare Collaborative (SSHC) physicians the ability to access the medical records of patients referred from the pediatric and adult emergency rooms at the Medical Center.

The portal will offer these benefits:

  • Help lower medical costs by reducing the need to re-order redundant tests
  • Reduce medical errors by displaying medication allergies, giving community doctors a more comprehensive view of the patient’s medical history
  • Improve outcomes by providing better continuity of care

A key goal of the Urban Health Initiative over the next three years is to create a seamless network of interconnected health care and social service agencies on the South Side. This portal is the first of many steps that will move us towards that vision.