Local hospitals say state grant for electronic medical records puts them on the cutting edge.

Monday, March 31, 2008  The Post-Standard

By Delen Goldberg

Staff writer

Imagine you are a new patient walking into a doctor's office.

With a few clicks of a mouse, the doctor pulls up your medical history on his computer screen - all of your medical records, a list of the prescription drugs you take, your allergies, a copy of your Medicaid eligibility and even pictures from your last MRI or chest X-ray.

With a few more computer clicks, the doctor sends your new prescription to your local pharmacy, so it will be ready for you to pick up, and it will be correct.

At home, you go online and update your medical information, adding in a new problem you've experienced, revising your immunization record and inviting a new physician to view your records.