GRAND FORKS (AP) - Altru Health System in Grand Forks and six other area hospitals and long-term care facilities will be storing patient medical information electronically by next fall.

The effort to try to reduce the numbers of medical errors and duplications and to increase efficiency is being paid for with a $1.6 million grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration.

The University of North Dakota's Center for Rural Health is managing the grant.

The facilities involved in the effort are in Grand Forks, Cavalier, Northwood and Park River.