Congressman Kurt Schrader has announced that Oregon’s Medicaid program will receive $3.53 million in funding to initiate an electronic health record program.

“Electronic health records are essential in providing Oregonians with high quality healthcare,” said Schrader. “Primary care doctors, specialists, and pharmacists should have access to electronic patient medical records so that they can provide high quality care and prescribe appropriate courses of treatment.”

Electronic medical records are essential in providing high quality care to patients. These records allow providers to provide high quality care and coordinate patient care between multiple medical facilities. Electronic records also allow providers to share vital information regarding patient allergies and prior conditions so that providers can prescribe patient appropriate treatments while significantly reducing the risk of medical error.

The funding will be matched by Oregon to analyze electronic health record technologies already in use, develop barriers that safeguard patient health information, and to create a statewide electronic health record plan for the state’s Medicaid program.

Currently, Oregon’s Medicaid Program provides medical coverage to more than 425,000 individuals within the state of Oregon.