ROCHESTER, NY – The Unity Health System has been awarded $800,000 to expand its electronic medical records system and support computer physician order entry (CPOE) initiatives already in place.

The federal grant is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, sponsored by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28) and co-sponsored by Congressman Christopher Lee (NY-26). The grant also received support from U.S. Sen. Kristen Gilibrand.

“Having electronic medical records and investing in evolving technologies is very important,” said Timothy Balconi, president of the Unity Health Foundation. “These technologies help improve Unity’s efficiency and prevent medical errors. We thank our Congressional delegation for supporting us and our initiative to provide quality care to our patients.”

Unity will be the only area health system with full electronic medical record implementation in early 2010. The system will cover Unity Hospital as well as Unity’s 12 primary care and six ob/gyn offices. This will represent a major milestone in a five-year, $15 million project.

The Unity Health System provides healthcare services from the Unity Park Ridge Hospital Campus in Greece N.Y., the Unity St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester and at other sites throughout Rochester and western Monroe County.

Services include inpatient and outpatient hospital care and surgery, a family birth place, women’s health services, chemical dependency and mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, adult day health and home health programs for older adults, retirement communities, child care and laboratory services.