Augusta, Maine, hospital tests electronic medical records system.

Publication: Kennebec Journal (Augusta, Maine) (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune Business News)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 Kennebec Journal

Byline: Gary Remal

Oct. 23--AUGUSTA -- Local health care is going online.

At MaineGeneral's Family Medicine Institute, doctors now can talk with patients while holding wireless computer keypads, giving them instant access to the patient's medical records. New information can likewise be entered into the database, becoming part of a patient's permanent health record.

The institute is one of seven MaineGeneral offices testing the new electronic medical records system, which MaineGeneral officials plan to phase in throughout its doctors' offices, clinics and other facilities in Augusta and Waterville.

"It's a matter of better efficiency and safety, and they're really two sides of the same coin," said Dr. Dan Mingle, a 20-year veteran physician in charge of the system's testing.

The first phase of the project linked seven MaineGeneral physicians' offices. Subsequent...

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