LVHN will use the state money to enhance its capacity to share patient health information electronically among physicians and hospitals in the Lehigh Valley as well as other regional exchanges. The goal of the exchange is to facilitate access to and retrieval of clinical data to advance patient-centered care.

LVHN said the exchange would save clinician and patient time, improve care and reduce health care costs. Physician sharing of up-to-date information could reduce a patient's out-of-pocket expenditures for unnecessary medications, tests and hospitalizations, said LVHN.

"The $1.5 million grant will advance our ability to coordinate communication between health care providers so we can continue to offer safe, cost-effective care across our community," said Harry Lukens, LVHN's senior vice president and CIO.