| In the 1960s, a physician named Lawrence L. | | | | Over the next few years, drug information |
| Weed first described the concept of | | | | elements were added to the core program, |
| computerized or electronic medical records. Weed | | | | allowing physicians to check for drug actions, |
| described a system to automate and reorganize | | | | dosages, side effects, allergies and interactions. At |
| patient medical records to enhance their utilization | | | | the same time, diagnostic and treatment plans for |
| and thereby lead to improved patient care. | | | | over 600 common medical problems were |
| Weed's work formed the basis of the PROMIS | | | | devised. |
| project at the University of Vermont, a | | | | During the 1970s and 1980s, several electronic |
| collaborative effort between physicians and | | | | medical record systems were developed and |
| information technology experts started in 1967 to | | | | further refined by various academic and research |
| develop an automated electronic medical record | | | | institutions. The Technicon system was |
| system. The project's objectives were to develop | | | | hospital-based, and Harvard's COSTAR system |
| a system that would provide timely and sequential | | | | had records for ambulatory care. The HELP |
| patient data to the physician, and enable the rapid | | | | system and Duke's 'The Medical Record' are |
| collection of data for epidemiological studies, | | | | examples of early in-patient care systems. |
| medical audits and business audits. The group's | | | | Indiana's Regenstrief record was one of the |
| efforts led to the development of the | | | | earliest combined in-patient and outpatient |
| problem-oriented medical record, or POMR. Also, in | | | | systems. |
| the 1960s, the Mayo Clinic began developing | | | | With advancements in computer and diagnostic |
| electronic medical record systems. | | | | applications during the 1990s, electronic medical |
| In 1970, the POMR was used in a medical ward of | | | | record systems became increasingly complex and |
| the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont for the | | | | more widely used by practices. In the 21st |
| first time. At this time, touchscreen technology | | | | century, more and more practices are |
| had been incorporated into data entry procedures. | | | | implementing electronic medical records. |