Recent developments in electronic medical records.

Human factors engineering principles will guide the development of future EMR systems. Physicians will use wireless palmtop computers to record patient data so that the computer does not come between the physician and patient in routine encounters. With few exceptions, the pieces for this type of system are available today, but not in one package. I believe EMR developers have recognized the ubiquity and power of the Internet. Because of advances in computers, software, and telecommunications reliability, solutions using thin-client technology will lower the cost of EMRs to physicians.