Rural Doctor Resurrects Health Clinic, Embraces EHR

Mississippi is one of the states challenging the constitutionality of the healthcare reform law. The state's lawsuit bothers her a great deal, Brooks says. The state is suing the government because the governor "doesn't' want to be forced to buy insurance for the marginalized and the poor," she says.

If healthcare reform stays in place – uncertain, in part, with the GOP takeover of the House  – "people will have better options, and hopefully get better education, and insurance to care for themselves," Brooks says. "Here we have a very poorly educated population that has no clue on how to take care of themselves."

A major aspect of her work is to help educate the patients. And that involved educating herself, Brooks says.

One of those elements was the need to embrace technology, even though some physicians are reluctant to do so. She says she'll do "whatever it takes to improve the quality of life for my community."

Two internists Brooks knew a while back were discussing medical records, and that got her interested in such programs. Eventually, she received a grant, and now, "electronic records are very exciting," Brooks says. The clinic purchased a Sage Intergy system that she says makes it more concise with her medical charting and dictation. The end result is more efficiency and savings, she says.