FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers Inc. (MVA) Fairmont Clinic has launched HEALTHeWV, a paperless patient records system that gives health care professionals quick access to patient information, clinical practice guidelines and patient education materials.

HEALTHeWV, a congressionally sponsored program brought to the state through the efforts of Senator Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) and managed by the National Technology Transfer Center (NTTC) at Wheeling Jesuit University, focuses on enhancing health care in rural communities. By offering health care providers quick access to the latest in evidence-based medicine guidelines and improving patient-provider communication with use of electronic health surveys and note-taking, HEALTHeWV goes beyond a typical electronic medical records (EMR) system to focus on patient care and improving patients’ health outcomes.

“HEALTHeWV will allow Monongahela Valley Association of Health Centers to increase the quality of care provided to our patients,” states Nancy L. Vandergrift, MVA president. “By tracking patient data electronically, MVA will be able to better assist patients in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. We also realize that time is a valuable resource, and this system is designed to more efficiently utilize the time the patient spends in our health center.”

The Fairmont Clinic is one of two MVA clinics providing high-quality, low-cost primary and preventive health care services to the residents of Marion, Harrison, Monongalia and surrounding counties. The MVA Shinnston Medical Center and East Fairmont and North Marion High School Wellness Centers are also part of the MVA health care system.

Wheeling Jesuit Vice President for Sponsored Programs J. Davitt McAteer says the University’s role in the HEALTHeWV project is an extension of its overall mission to make a positive difference in the lives of fellow West Virginians. “We are proud to manage HEALTHeWV’s technical deployment into the state’s medically underserved rural communities. We live and work in West Virginia and know how important this effort is to addressing the state’s high incidence of chronic disease and improving the health care of rural patients,” McAteer says.

HEALTHeWV went “live” for the first time in 2006 at Wheeling Health Right. Since then it has been adopted by 20 additional clinics.

Sen. Byrd has worked to improve rural health care for many years. “Because our state is predominantly rural, many of our citizens who suffer from chronic disease conditions lack access to the best available health care,” Byrd said. “I fully support the HEALTHeWV program because it specifically targets improving health care for rural patients and gives rural physicians access to the same medical information as their urban counterparts.” With the success of HEALTHeWV, Byrd says West Virginia can serve as a model to other states considering EMR systems.

Clinics interested in more information about the program can contact HEALTHeWV Executive Director Dr. Mazharullah Shaik at (304) 243-2127 or visit www.healthewv.net.