New York City has launched a program that uses electronic health records to help primary care physicians combat preventable health problems, United Press International reports.
For the program, called Panel Management, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Primary Care Information Project has equipped more than 1,700 medical practices with electronic health records that highlight patients' health risk before they cause serious conditions and remind patients to make appointments. The EHRs largely are funded by Pfizer.
Amanda Parsons, assistant health commissioner and head of PCIP, said, "Small medical practices often don't have the resources to provide this kind of outreach. This initiative uses existing technology to cross that barrier" (United Press International, 2/1).