Foothills Health Information Network is a local electronic health information exchange system, serving Clemson and Oconee county, designed to provide seamless communications among local healthcare providers.  The network utilizes a common electronic medical record (EMR) system and common data processes to create, maintain and share recorded patient information, while protecting the privacy of the patient's health information.

The purpose of this project is threefold; to improve coordination of care, quality of care and enhance provider capacity and efficiency.

This network strategy has been developed and supported by the group of local physicians, hospital executives and business leaders. A rigorous selection process has been completed to locate the best provider of the electronic medical record technology and support information technologies that would enable the development of a comprehensive local geographic model. McKesson Corporation has been selected as the provider of common technology solutions for Foothills Health Information Network.

Interoperability---the enabling of communication across software and hardware from multiple vendors---is necessary to provide comprehensive and accurate patient information in an electronic health record (EHR).