CONTACT: Simone Lindsay, 410-871-6836
SLindsay@CarrollHospitalCenter.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWestminster, Md. – (November 6, 2009) —Carroll Hospital Center received a $15,000 grant from the Verizon Foundation to support the hospital’s implementation of the RelayHealth system. This marks the second year in a row that the Verizon Foundation has awarded this grant to the hospital, for a combined $30,000.

RelayHealth is a secure online connectivity service that allows hospital-affiliated physicians to better serve their patients and monitor all aspects of their medical care. It demonstrates Carroll Hospital Center’s commitment to ensuring the hospital’s information technology is the most advanced and up-to-date to help physicians provide patients with the highest level of quality care.

With this program, physicians are able to view patients’ laboratory and diagnostic imaging results in real time, electronically. Physicians can connect with patients through Web visits, an online tool where physicians can discuss non-urgent health issues with patients. RelayHealth also allows physicians to coordinate patient referrals to other specialists, if required, and helps them to provide swift medical care.

“With RelayHealth lab results are readily available, which saves on time and allows us to assess a patient’s condition quicker, ultimately enhancing patient care,” urologist Keith O’Reilly, M.D., Advanced Urology Associates, L.L.C., said.

In addition, RelayHealth allows the physician’s office staff to populate patients’ electronic medical records and schedule appointments with patients through e-mail requests. One of the system’s most useful tools is its ability to allow physicians to transmit prescriptions electronically.

“E-prescribing is a convenient service that improves the quality of health care for patients and patient safety,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “It makes prescribing medications much faster, it reduces medication errors and saves patients time by allowing us to send prescriptions directly to a pharmacy of their choice where it’s often ready for them to pick up before they even arrive,” he added.

To date a total of 65 hospital-affiliated physicians are using the specialized software which has helped to increase efficiency in physician offices, improve communication between physicians and patients, and to facilitate patient care.

The Verizon Foundation is a division of Verizon Communications that provides support to nonprofit organizations to help fund programs related to literacy, education, domestic abuse, health care and accessibility, and Internet safety.

Carroll Hospital Center, founded in 1961 as Carroll County General Hospital, is a nonprofit, acute care facility offering the latest in medical technology, experienced medical professionals in a variety of specialties and a continuum of programs and services to meet the needs of the community.

###