November 9, 2009

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Officials at Medical College of Georgia
Hospital and Clinics will soon use computers in a national effort
to more closely track the flu pandemic.

The MCG clinical system is one of 550 nationwide working with
medical records provider Cerner in its Flu Pandemic Initiative. It
will eventually become 1,100 providers.

Data about flu visits -- with identifying data removed -- is taken
directly from electronic medical records several times a day and
sent to a central provider in Kansas City, which then forwards it
to public health officials.

David A. Snyder, the chief quality officer and chief medical
informatics officer for MCG Health Inc., says this could help build
a picture of the prevalence of H1N1 flu.