HealthInfoNet, Maine’s Regional Extension Center (MEREC) was recently awarded $968,275 in additional funds to help health care providers in Maine adopt electronic health records. HealthInfoNet has now brought more than $6 million in federal funding to Maine to assist small and rural primary care physician practices and hospitals use electronic health records to improve patient care quality, safety and efficiency.

The recently announced funds represent additional funding awarded to MEREC through the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology – Health Information Technology Extension Program. $836,275 will be used to ensure primary care providers, working with HealthInfoNet under the MEREC program, use EHRs that meet new federal requirements for the sharing and use of health information.  The remaining $132,000 will be used to help 22 critical access and rural Maine hospitals adopt and effectively use electronic health records and health information exchange to improve care for their patients.