The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has partnered with nine leading information technology companies to offer electronic health records (EHR) hardware and software at discounted prices (15 to 50 percent depending on the product) for AAFP members in small- or medium-sized medical practices. EHR systems allow physicians and staff members to view, chart, and interact with patients' health information in a timely and accurate manner via computer, Internet, and personal data assistant devices. Participants in "Partners for Patients" include [A.sup.4] Health Systems, GE Medical Systems Information Technologies, Hewlett-Packard, MedPlexus, Inc., MedPlus, Inc., NextGen Healthcare Information Systems, Inc., Physician Micro Systems, Inc., Siemens Medical Solutions Health Services Corp., and Welch Allyn, Inc. Each company pledges to uphold the AAFP's four guiding principles: affordability, compatibility, interoperability, and data stewardship. For more information on this initiative or to access the partner organizations' Web sites for product and pricing information, go to http://www.aafp. org/x24906.xml. The AAFP is heading a movement to make EHRs the standard method of medical record systems communication by working with health care technology companies to create a breakthrough in the adoption of EHRs in family physicians' offices.

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