The Birth of EHR In 1972: A Quiet Revolution In Healthcare

Every great innovation has its “aha” moment, you know, the one spark that changes everything!

For modern healthcare, one of those quiet revolutions began in 1972, when the idea of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) wasn’t just ahead of its time—it was almost wishful thinking, like sci-fi.

Once Upon a Time in the 1960s…

Let’s set the scene. Nigeria was probably still celebrating its independence from the British masters. Many of us weren’t even born yet, and you could probably count the number of healthcare centers/institutions available then. But somewhere far away, in walks a group of visionaries who saw a different future—one where medical records lived on computers, not in dusty drawers and cabinets.

It was Dr. Larry Weed, a passionate physician and educator, who helped lay the foundation.

He introduced the Problem-Oriented Medical Record (POMR), a structured way of documenting patient care that made perfect sense but was difficult to manage on paper.

Computers, though?

Yes, they could easily handle it!

In 1972, the idea took a giant leap forward with the development of the first functioning EHR system at the Regenstrief Institute in Indiana, led by Dr. Clement McDonald and his team.

Their system, creatively dubbed the Regenstrief Medical Record System (RMRS), was the real deal: a functioning electronic system that could store and retrieve patient data from a computer.

Mind. Blown.

At first, adoption was slow.

Not because it wasn’t brilliant, but because, well, change is hard.

Doctors and nurses were used to scribbling notes, not typing them.

Hospitals didn’t all have computers sitting around. And let’s be honest, early computers weren’t exactly user-friendly.

In the 1980s and ’90s, the US became a major early adopter, rolling out its system, which was a groundbreaking move that set the stage for what was to come globally.

Then came the 2000s, with faster internet, better software, and a real push for better, safer, more efficient healthcare, governments across the world, from the UK’s NHS to healthcare systems in Canada, Australia, and beyond, started investing in digital health record technology development.

What began as a single project in Indiana has now become a healthcare necessity in countries around the globe.

Today, EHRs aren’t just storage—they’re powerful systems that help healthcare professionals track diseases, flag allergies, avoid medical errors, coordinate care, and even support AI-powered diagnostics.

Here in Nigeria, its adoption into the system is not as fast as it should be, as many hospitals are still using pens and paper. However, times are changing, and more institutions are beginning to digitalise their healthcare processes. This transformation can be seen in both federal and privately owned healthcare institutions.

They are all beginning to use EHRs and other digital health services to improve healthcare delivery for the masses.

So, let’s raise a (digital) toast to the dreamers of 1972, to Dr. Weed, and to everyone who believed that better record-keeping could lead to better care.

Thanks to their vision, we now live in a world where our health history is safely stored and secured. It is not just stored or recorded, but can help provide powerful and valuable insight into our health and wellbeing.

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