Topeka ? A plan to connect Kansas health care systems electronically is moving forward under the direction of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The system will let health care providers and other partners share information to help coordinate patient care. It’s also intended to aid public agencies in understandiong and improving health care goals.

States are receiving federal funding to create the exchanges, which are to be in place by 2014.

KDHE Secretary Rod Bremby says planning for the Kansas exchange gets under way in January. A council overseeing the project was set to meet Tuesday in Topeka.