United Health Systems of Eastern Carolina, the parent company of Heritage Hospital in Tarboro, was named one of Hospitals and Health Networks magazine's 100 "Most Wired" hospitals in the country.

United Health Systems spokeswoman Beth Atkins said the distinction comes after the company made "a tremendous technological leap forward" at Heritage, Pitt County Memorial Hospital in Greenville and The Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head.

The three hospitals now use an all-digital record-keeping system called HealthSpan, and they each have wireless, high-speed Internet connectivity.

Since HealthSpan was unveiled at Heritage Hospital on April 19, physicians, nurses and caregivers can access medical records from any computer within the hospital.

Barbara Dunn, United Health Systems' public relations director, said that a Heritage patient's records could be accessed through HealthSpan at Pitt Memorial or at The Outer Banks Hospital.

Not only is a phone call to a doctor or a physician eliminated, but Dunn said a patient's X-rays, medication list and other files are accessible through HealthSpan in those three hospitals.

"It brings the message home that you can get great care no matter where you are in Eastern North Carolina," she said.

Heritage Hospital President Wick Baker said that from start to finish, it took almost a year to launch HealthSpan and host wireless internet connectivity at Heritage.

He said the hospital's new services are "indicative of the commitment that (United Health Systems) has, that Heritage has, (to) staying on top of the latest technology.

"(It is) important that we have the most available tools for our doctors and staff. This is a good way to do that," Baker said.

Before HealthSpan, Baker said that some of the hospital's records were already stored digitally, with the rest on paper.

Though part of the record was digital, "any time there's a change, it takes some time to get used to it," Baker said.

"Our staff is doing a great job of managing all that. We continue to look for improvements and training opportunities to help our staff be a little more efficient with it," he added.

Charles Alford, Heritage's vice president of financial services, said that HealthSpan's electronic data collection "enhances" statistical and financial reporting at the hospital.

Dunn said that installation of HealthSpan and wireless Internet in six of United Health Systems' seven hospitals will cost an estimated $27 million. Roanoke-Chowan Hospital in Ahoskie, Chowan Hospital in Edenton and Bertie Memorial Hospital in Windsor are expected to be outfitted with HealthSpan and wireless Internet within the next year.