Vegas docs bet on EMRs

As President Bush vies for electronic medical records as one way to reform the nation's ailing healthcare system, some Las Vegas physicians and health insurance carriers are buying in. Southwest Medical Associates, for example, is offering patients My SMA Health Online--which provides patients with a personal page where they can schedule, change or cancel primary care physician and pediatric doctor appointments. Patients can also request prescription renewals from their physicians, manage and update their personal account information and e-mail their physicians.