The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Program has awarded a loan of $800,000 and a grant of $200,000 to Brewer-based Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems.

“By reducing costs and enhancing treatment efficiency, these USDA Rural Development funds will help the Eastern Maine Healthcare System improve its services to patients across the region,” Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins said in a joint statement.

Serving Hancock, Kennebec, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset and Waldo counties, EMHS will use the funds to expand the organization’s existing electronic medical record system, or EMR. The grant and loan will provide 18 medical offices and practices access to the EMR system.