LEWISTON – Central Maine Medical Center landed a $500,000 grant this week to help turn a warehouse of X-rays and CT scans into computer files.

Not only will the upgrade save the hospital space, it could save lives by getting crucial medical information into the hands of doctors faster, CMMC spokesman Chuck Gill said.

The total cost of converting medical images from films to bytes is estimated at $6.4 million, said Gill, vice president of public affairs.

The technology also allows for two or more doctors in different parts of a hospital, or at different hospitals, to discuss a patient’s medical images while viewing them.

Oversized envelopes containing films would be replaced by compact disks.

The project is the final stage of a 15-year effort aimed at putting all patient information into digital form, Gill said.

He expects the job will be complete in about 15 months.

Once the conversion is finished, a doctor should be able to retrieve relevant medical information of a patient simply by typing search words into a computer, he said.

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture is earmarked for bringing technology to rural hospitals. CMMC has two satellite hospitals: one in Bridgton and one in Rumford.