Community project funding/congressionally directed spending - construction - the advances in medicine and the accompanying technology have virtually revolutionized the delivery of health care

Key to this process has been the advance of the electronic medical record or EMR. The advanced EMR systems such as epic create the ability to exchange information electronically between healthcare professionals and the patients they serve. Now healthcare providers are able to access critical information about individual patients at the point of care, at the patient's bed-side or in the provider's office. The EMR provides secure sharing of electronic information with patients and other clinicians. Within the advanced EMR consumers can access important information about their own health status including results of various medical tests such as lab results, medications, planned office visits, important emergency contact information and so much more. Rural communities particularly benefit from the epic EMR. Many times patients must travel outside their local community to see specialists or obtain second opinions. This may mean travel hundreds of miles away. With the epic EMR the patient's primary care provider has the ability to safely and securely send important information to the receiving hospital or medical specialists. This makes the appointment with the medical specialist or second opinion much more efficient. Patients are no longer required to obtain a computer disc or other record of their health status and carry them to the next level of care. In some instances there is an ongoing need for patients or their providers to routinely communicate with the physician specialist to better manage care and the epic EMR provides this ability. Information can literally be exchanged in minutes. The advanced epic EMR not only significantly improves access to health information for both the individual consumer and the healthcare provider IT also enhances safety. Access to the EMR in the hospital emergency room provides the care PR ovider with immediate access to any patient allergies. The advanced EMR identifies and tracks any patient allergies and monitors prescribed medications and alerts the healthcare provider of any potential negative medication interaction. This can be done even if the patient is unconscious. 94% of healthcare providers report that the EMR makes records readily available at the point of care and in emergency situations this information can make a life-saving difference. (healthit.GOV). In rural communities, such as aroostook county, we have a rapidly aging population. For many older adults accessing and interacting with technology can be a challenge. The epic EMR allows patients to provide access to their health information to a trusted loved one. Many times a daughter or SON is providing care to an older parent. With the information available to the caregiver through the patient portal the caregiver can help support the older adult, discuss their health status and other important health information. This is particularly beneficial in the management of prescribed medications. According to the american society of consultant pharmacists, people aged 65 to 69 take an average of 15 prescriptions a year, and those aged 80 to 84 take 18 prescriptions a year. Empowered with information through the patient portal the caregiver can monitor prescriptions and help the patient remain vigilant in taking medications as prescribed. Similarly, the patient portal is a very valuable tool of parents caring from young children. Parents will have access to important health information on their young children. For new parents keeping track of vaccine schedules for infants and toddlers can be difficult. Through the patient portal they have the ability to access key information on their child's vaccine history and to stay on the recommended schedule. Never before has medical information become so accessible and so life-changing as can be provided by the epic advanced electronic medi CAL record. No place