title: EMRs in the fourth stage: the future of electronic medical records based on the experience at Intermountain Health Care.
abstract: In the third stage of electronic medical record development, key features of EMR systems have converged, making them more difficult to differentiate from a cost/benefit standpoint. Fourth stage EMR systems are likely to introduce new, more effective decision support capabilities, offering a competitive advantage to hospitals that use them. Intermountain Health Care's HELP systems, which developed along different paths than other early EMR systems, offer unique decision-support capabilities that provide significant additional benefits. This paper quantifies and compare the benefits of Third Stage EMR systems, and the possible Fourth Stage capabilities of the HELP.
authors.affiliation: First Consulting Group's Health Delivery Practice.
authors.forename: Douglas Ivan
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Classen
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Haug
mesh_terms: D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D014707:Vermont