By AP/KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Missouri has a new way of linking up hospitals, emergency services providers and public health agencies in case of a disaster. State officials today announced a computer-based system that allows health officials to know which hospitals are able to take trauma patients and which hospitals are full or experiencing problems.
The Missouri Hosptial Association is picking up the first-year cost of $219 thousand. Governor Bob Holden says he hopes federal agencies will cover the $179 thousand in annual operating costs for future years.