Electronic Health Records Comes to GA

Federal health officials were in Atlanta today, to announce that Georgia was chosen for a pilot program for electronic health records. It's a system that keeps patient records in a computerized data base. The program will work with one hundred physicians throughout the state. Governor Sonny Perdue says electronic health records are the wave of the future.

"This is sort of what the ATM card was to banking just a few years ago. No longer do we have to wait for the office to be open Monday through Friday for business hours. No longer will we have to fill out forms in triplicates just to obtain your medical records."

The idea is that by turning from paper to electronic records, mistakes can be avoided and costs can be cut.

Georgia to bid for electronic health records program

Georgia could be one of 12 states across the nation to receive federal money to help small and medium-market doctor practices. The aim is to encourage physicians to make the jump from paper medical record-filing--to electronic.

The U.S Health and Human Services Secretary was in Atlanta today to announce the 150-million dollar demonstration project. It would direct 12-15 million dollars to each of the approved medical markets.

Governor Sonny Perdue was on-hand for the announcement. He says this incentive-based program can help spur health care growth in the state.

"Once we get those providers out here who don’t think its going to be a change, and nobody likes change and inconvienence…once they see the value of how they can go back and assess what happened to this patient when I did this, and what happened there and do that electronically. I think it will be very amazing and revolutionary for them and grow."

There is an application process for the project. Georgia will apply, and would hear something by late summer-early fall.

Georgia health officials say if money is approved, it would go to help several areas of the state.