The Michigan State Medical Society is working to create a new Web-based system for its approximately 15,000 members statewide, thus expanding the use of electronic records.

The Web-based electronic medical information will allow Michigan physicians to share clinical data, send prescriptions to pharmacies and update their practices electronically. Doctors will be able to electronically get fundamental services, such as secure messaging, and receiving lab or test results. On top of that, the MSMS Connect, as the portal has been called, will also link with other health care and administrative systems.

The system is scheduled to be released at the beginning of next year by Covisint, a subsidiary of Compuware Corp., a prominent software company. MSMS Connect will be free to physicians outside of big healthcare systems or who haven’t used information technology in their practices.

Supporters for this type of systems agree they mean lower costs and enhance patient care by preventing errors and facilitating doctors the access to information.

The contract concluded between Covisint and the state doctors association is “the first step towards significant connectivity in the state of Michigan," according to Dr. Gregory Forzley, chair of the medical society's board of directors and medical director of informatics at St. Mary's Health Care in Grand Rapids.

It is worth mentioning that patients’ medical records won’t be available by electronic means; at least in the beginning.