KANSAS CITY – Cerner Corp. plans to provide personal health records for every child in the United States with Type 1 diabetes as part of a 10-year program.

Announced at its users' group meeting in Orlando, Fla., the initiative could cost as much as $25 million over 10 years, the company estimated. Cerner executives believe the records will enable caregivers and families to better manage the disease and potentially reduce the cost of care.

The personal health record is intended to help connect physicians to families with children who have the disease. Increased electronic communication is expected to reduce routine office visits and enable physicians to focus attention on difficult cases. the company says.

Cerner will fund the initiative itself as a proof-of-concept concerning electronic health records, said Neal Patterson, CEO and chairman of the company.

"There's no business model for this; no one wants to pay for it," he said. "It makes sense to create a national proof point around the benefits of a PHR and to help improve the health outcomes of kids with diabetes."

The personal health record for children with Type 1 diabetes was tested at DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, Mich. Since its implementation in late 2002, the facility reported benefits such as increased communication between children and their physicians. Children also were more motivated to record their information on a computer rather than on paper.

About 15 other children's hospitals have agreed to participate in the rollout of the diabetes personal health record, and Patterson asked other facilities to take part in the project.

"We're asking you to join us," he told hospital executives. "We want to show the power of the connection provided by electronic health records."