Prerequisite: None

Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems increase physician efficiency and reduce costs, as well as promote standardization of care. However, while the benefits of EHR systems are numerous, fewer than 10 percent of hospitals as of 2006 have a fully integrated system. Primary concerns include long-term preservation and storage of records, synchronization of records, legal issues, cost, and the privacy and security of EHR systems.

While EHR system adoption and implementation have had a rocky beginning in the US, government agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Defense Health Information Management System are at the cutting edge of EHR adoption and health information exchange. Representatives from both agencies will discuss the trials and triumphs of their respective systems.