The Chesapeake Regional Information System for our Patients (CRISP)--Maryland's regional health IT extension center--has become the third center (behind Massachusetts and South Carolina) to reached its initial goal of signing up 1,000 primary care providers to help become meaningful users of electronic health records (EHRs). Meeting this goal required a push from the top: Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) and Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) have made the establishment of a secure statewide health information exchange and widespread adoption of EHRs by the end of 2012 one of the 15 strategic goals for the state. The administration has worked closely with CRISP, MedChi (the Maryland State Medical Society) and other healthcare partners to speed up adoption of EHRs. Announcement