It’s the future of healthcare and it’s already becoming a reality in Lee County.

“One patient. One record in the community. That’s the ideal. That’s the endgame,” says Mike Smith, Chief Information Officer for Lee Memorial Health System.

He says they’re already using some features associated with electronic medical records. “We have patients that have clinical information that we’ve categorized and maintained as far back as 10 years.”

The system revolves around you. When you visit a doctor’s office or outpatient center, it’s recorded in the database. Even past visits, lab results, surgeries and prescribed medications are logged. It’s a system that the Obama administration believes can eliminate time consuming paperwork.

“Its really all about enabling the care giver, the physician, with information, that will allow them to do their job better,” explains Smith.

When the entire system is completed in a few years, patients will be able to access their own records to make appointments. Even family members from across the miles can monitor a loved one’s health status.