Ruppersberger Announces $951,000 for
Cutting-Edge, Electronic Patient Record Systems For Maryland Health Clinics

(Washington, D.C.)- Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) announces $951,000 for cutting edge, electronic patient record systems for Maryland health clinics.  The technology reduces medical errors, increases communication between healthcare providers, drives down costs, protects patient privacy, and helps save lives.  The electronic records will be used at eight community health centers that are part of the Community Health Integrated Partnership (CHIP) serving more than 110,000 people statewide.  In the Baltimore region, the centers serve Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, and Baltimore City and offer everything from routine medical and dental care as well as an on-site pharmacy.         

"This electronic patient record system is the future of healthcare by improving overall patient care while at the same time reducing costs.  My life was saved at the University of Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center after a terrible car accident in the 1970s.  I believe our healthcare workers need all the tools available to do their jobs well and help save lives," said Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD). 

With this electronic record system, previous years of records can now be accessed and shared by primary care physicians and specialists in a clear, easy to read format.  Doctors and nurses can give more effect “after-hours” or “urgent care.”  A physician can securely access a patient’s records from home at night to determine if a patient should go to the emergency room or if the situation can wait until the morning for a traditional appointment.  This will save both time and money.  The system can be a “first alert” in the case of a hazardous or biological incident, letting doctors and nurses know quickly about a potentially dangerous health situation.  A pharmacist no longer has to guess the name or dosage of a prescription because it is electronic and easy to read.  In the case of a prescription recall, the computer can pull up the patients that need to be contacted and quickly switched over to a safe medication. 
 
Congressman Ruppersberger joined doctors, nurses, patients, and other healthcare providers at Chase Brexton Health Services in Randallstown today for the announcement.  The money was included in the Omnibus spending bill that was signed into law recently.  
 

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