BANGOR, Maine —  Penobscot Community Health Care recently announced its participation in Maine’s health information exchange. This computer-based system is used statewide and will help PCHC share important patient health information such as drug allergies, prescriptions, medical conditions, and lab and test results with health care providers across the state. The new system is available through PCHC’s partnership with HealthInfoNet, an independent, Maine-based nonprofit that operates the statewide health information exchange.

HealthInfoNet’s secure system links information from separate health care sites to create a single electronic health record for individual patients. This record combines health information from PCHC and all of a patient’s other health care providers that participate. HealthInfoNet hopes to connect all health care providers to its system by 2015.

Eastern Maine Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital also share health information with the exchange.

For information about HealthInfoNet, visit www.hinfonet.org.