A statewide biomedical communications network for South Carolina

In 1972, the Medical University of South Carolina was awarded a contract to establish 4 Area Health Education Centers in South Carolina. These centers, based in community hospitals, provide residency programs, clinical instruction for students, and continuing education programs for health professionals. In late 1974, contractual agreements between the Medical University of South Carolina's Library/Learning Resource Center and the Area Health Education Centers were negotiated to provide book and nonbook learning materials to all health practitioners in South Carolina. The history and the functions of the resulting network and evaluation of audiovisual and self-instructional learning materials procured and distributed by the network are described.