patients of laboratory results, schedule appointments, and send out reminders. For example, if I see that a patient's lab test is abnormal, then I schedule an appointment through the portal and send a message to the patient that they really need to come in to see me. The key thing about the website is that it's interactive -- patients are able to communicate with us, and we can communicate with them. ONC: Have you been working with a Regional Extension Center? Smith: Yes. Our Regional Extension Center -- the University of North Carolina AHEC REC -- has helped us tremendously. They are helping us better capture and quantify clinical information, as well as helping us upgrade and get the most out of our computers and EHR system. We originally purchased our computers in 2003, and we're trying to get the last bit of life out of every computer. The REC has been able to help us do that. And when we make upgrades to our systems, they are right there helping us evaluate what's best for our practice. They also help us make the right decisions when evaluating vendor contracts. We've been burned in the past, but now with the help of the REC, we don't have to worry about that happening. ONC: Anything else you'd like to share about EHRs? Smith: As physicians, we're under such pressure, not only from our patient population but also from our personal lives and our families. With an EHR, I'm able to take