The System That Turned Paper Charts Into Digital Medical Records

Most hospitals and health care providers use electronic health records instead of paper charts to note patient vaccinations, diagnoses, and procedures. AthenaOne, Epic, and Oracle Health are some of the systems employed around the world. Many patients can access their electronic medical records from home.The platforms exist thanks to pioneering efforts such as the Medical Information System (MIS-I). The first hospital-wide computer system, it was developed in the 1960s by Lockheed Martin (then known as Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.) in partnership with El Camino Hospital, in Mountain View, Calif. Doctors and nurses used MIS-I (pronounced miss-ONE) to admit patients, order lab work and imaging, schedule follow-up appointments, and issue hospital bills, according to a 1973 article published by Datamation.Although many people now know how to type on a keyboard, in the 1960s, most did not. Therefore, MIS-I included a light pen, which worked like a stylus for today’s touchscreens.MIS-I was recognized as an IEEE Milestone during a ceremony on 14 May at El Camino Hospital. The IEEE Santa Clara Valley Section sponsored the Milestone.“The medical information system was more than a techno…