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First EHRs Created
The first EHRs, called Clinical Information Systems (CIS), were created in the 1960s. One system, created by Lockheed, influenced later designs because its processing speed and capacity allowed multiple users at once. -
HELP Goes Live
3M and the University of Utah creates Health Evaluation through Logical Processing (HELP), one of the first clinical decision support systems. -
New Developments in Efficiency
Computer Stored Ambulatory Record (COSTAR) is put in place at Massachusetts General Hospital. This EHR allows for modular implementation to increase efficiency (e.g. separating billing from clinical information) and has a flexible vocabulary to account for differences in medical terminology -
VistA and the Public Domain
The federal government begins using EHR technology with the Department of Veteran’s Affairs implementation of VistA and provides its software without restriction in the public domain to other government and private sector agencies. -
HL7 Formed
Health Level Seven (HL7), a non-profit international standards-developing organization is formed to ensure standards of interoperability for EHRs are met. -
IOM Report on EHRs
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) publishes a report that identifies EHR implementation as one of the seven key recommendations for improving patient records. It also identified barriers to EHR adoption and suggests funding for development from private and public sources. -
IOM Report on Safety
IOM released a study of medical errors that concludes healthcare would be safer with technology such as electronic physician orders. -
HITECH
The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) is passed, which provides higher payments to healthcare providers that meet “meaningful use” criteria with their EHRs. This involves using EHR for relevant purposes and meeting set technological requirements.