BY COLIN HICKEY

Staff Writer

HealthReach Community Health Centers learned in March of more than $350,000 in economic stimulus money headed its way.

This week the funding news got nearly four times better.

HealthReach, which has its headquarters in Waterville, learned Monday that it will receive more than $1.3 million in economic stimulus money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"It is very good news," HealthReach President Connie Coggins said Thursday. "It will help us further our mission in the communities."

The nonprofit organization, operator of 11 rural health centers in central Maine, is not the only rural health agency to benefit from the latest round of money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Sebasticook Family Doctors, which has administrative offices in Newport, will get $439,348 from the federal initiative. The nonprofit runs clinics in six communities, including Newport, Hartland, Canaan and Pittsfield.

Coggins, who also is HealthReach's chief executive officer, said the grant money must be used for capital improvement needs.

Coggins said HealthReach will use most of the funds to establish an integrated electronic medical record system at its 11 clinics.

HealthReach currently has four clinics, including Lovejoy Health Center in Albion and Belgrade Regional Health Center, that have completed the conversion to an electronic medical record system.

"(This) will allow us to complete the initial implementation for sure," Coggins said.

Coggins said electronic record keeping requires substantial investments in computers, servers, scanners and telecommunication equipment.

Such a system, she said, helps to improve efficiency and reduce mistakes.

Money from the grant became available Wednesday, Coggins said, and the funding is good through June 30, 2011.

The $1.3 million for HealthReach is part of $10.2 million in federal Community Health Center funding for 18 community health centers in Maine.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com