Rainy Lake Medical Center to implement new Information Technology system. Technology will mean enhanced access to healthcare data for patients and providers.

International Falls, MN. (August 12, 2010) — The Rainy Lake Medical Center Governing Board recently voted to move forward with an information technology implementation project that will provide a more comprehensive platform for patients and healthcare providers to deliver high quality care while increasing convenience and coordination. The new IT system will be comprised of software from Epic, a company founded in 1979 and based in Verona, Wisconsin, and the Lawson system. The EPIC platform will provide clinical applications, including an Inpatient Electronic Medical Record (EMR), which will be unified into a common system with the current physician practice EMR at the Rainy Lake Medical Center clinic campus. “The implementation of the system on the hospital side will provide more seamless care for our patients,” says Brian Long, Rainy Lake Medical Center Chief Executive Officer. The Lawson system will provide all of the business applications required for the Medical Center The new IT system will more fully integrate patients into the healthcare experience by connecting them to their physicians, nurses, and pharmacists, personal information, and latest medical knowledge. Electronic Medical Records systems increase communication and data sharing among healthcare teams via a secure, online platform so providers have instant access to vital healthcare information. “The EMR has proven results in helping healthcare providers improve the delivery of care in an emergency situation, as well as the management of chronic conditions,” says Douglas Johnson, MD, Rainy Lake Medical Center Chief Medical Officer. “I am excited about what this investment will mean for the health of the people in our community.” According to Long, the timeline for implementation is aggressive, with the goal of June, 2011. “Implementing a new, organization-wide electronic medical records system, from installation to adaptation, will require significant resources,” he says. The organization plans to begin implementation and training before the end of the year.