Albert Lea Medical Center and Austin Medical Center will launch their new electronic medical record Saturday. Once their systems “go live,” the new EMR will be up and running across the entire health system in Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The EMR ultimately brings together patient information from all Mayo Health System locations into a single EMR system. This allows for immediate access and sharing of information across MHS.

Benefits of the new electronic medical record include:

• Provider can immediately pull up and review patients’ medical record and add information available for future visits to ALMC, AMC or other MHS sites.

• Information about allergies and potential medication interactions pop up for providers reviewing or adding information to patients’ medical records.

• Prescriptions can be sent electronically to pharmacies.

• Access to the latest evidence-based research and treatment guidelines is right at each provider’s fingertips.

• Quality and patient outcomes across the system are monitored to easily identify best practices and share information throughout MHS to improve patient care.

“This is one of the most exciting information technology projects ever done within Albert Lea Medical Center, Austin Medical Center, Mayo Health System and Mayo Clinic,” said John Grzybowski, M.D., ALMC medical director and family physician. “When completed, it will enhance the availability and quality of clinical data within Mayo Health System. Simply put, the EMR can help save lives, provide better care, and reduce the potential for errors and lower long-term costs of care.”

The new EMR will be a secure, password-protected device that’s closely monitored. Health care providers and staff will have access only to the portions of the patient’s electronic medical record that is needed for them to perform their care and work.

“Our staff has done a terrific job of implementing this complex and comprehensive EMR,” said John Coppes, M.D., AMC medical director and OB/GYN physician. “With the EMR in place, ALMC, AMC and all MHS sites ahead of many other health care organizations in this country. We are excited to offer this new technology to our patients.”