Patients at the Family Care Center at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island now have a new way to track their health and manage chronic conditions. The hospital recently unveiled an e-Health Patient Education Center, complete with computers and volunteer staff to help them create a personal health record, find medication assistance through RxAssist.org and obtain reliable health information about their concerns on the Internet.

Charles B. Eaton, MD, MS, Director of the Brown University Center for Primary Care and Prevention, based at Memorial, notes that the e-Health Patient Education Center is a great benefit to patients who may not have a personal computer or may not be familiar with using one.

The e-health Patient Education Center is an extension of a multi-year project testing an e-health enabled patient-centered medical home. A total of 200 patients will be able to access information from their electronic medical record at the Family Care Center. Electronic medical records from dozens of patients who have already joined the study have been transferred into the personal health record ‘LifeSensor’ that patients can now use.

Cumberland resident Fred Lermer is enthusiastic about the project. “I have access to my medical information in one spot,” he states, “including all my medications. I’ve even entered my exercise regimens.”

Volunteer patient navigators, who are knowledgeable in using the system and in searching for health information, are available by appointment to assist patients who may be less familiar with the use of computers or the Internet.

Family Care Center patients who are interested in learning more about the project can call (401) 729-2081.