Reporting cases of Lyme disease and other infectious diseases in Massachusetts to the state board of health has long been hindered by time-consuming paperwork. Incomplete data collection creates confusion in interpreting prevalence and patterns of transmission.

In the immediate future, electronic medical record keeping — which is becoming law across the country — will surely improve the epidemiological data. With a finger flick on a keyboard a practitioner can instantly notify the board of health of a suspected or definite case of Lyme or other pathogens.

The new technology eases the burden of assembling and interpreting data. Public health will move into a new era of improved diagnosis and will help every practitioner and patient at points of care on this Island and across the country.

Dr. Gerry Yukevich and Dr. Bruce Stelle
Vineyard Haven