MRI History

A Vision for the Future

Some 40 years ago, the vision for electronic health record (EHR) systems was born. At the time, health informatics experts thought that the obvious benefits of the EHR would lead to adoption within a few years, but in reality, little happened. This was largely due to the lack of understanding by healthcare providers and consumers of these potential benefits.

In 1983, C. Peter Waegemann, President and CEO of Medical Records Institute, who believed that total adoption would eventually occur, sought to smooth the transition from paper to computer records, His vision that the global healthcare society should share its expertise and experiences led to the creation of the Medical Records Institute, an educational organization designed to stimulate the development of electronic medical records and electronic health records through health information technology.

Waegemann developed the TEPR (Towards the Electronic Patient Record) Conference as the forum for sharing knowledge and experience about EMRs. The initial conference held in 1984 was attended by a small number of health IT professionals. In the years that followed, TEPR has developed into an internationally recognized health IT event, earning its reputation as the premier conference focusing on electronic medical records.

Over the years, MRI expanded to hold a number of national and international conferences in addition to TEPR including:

• EMR Road Show™ - a nationwide series of physician forums on EMR adoption and use.
• The Health IT Trends & Marketing Conference - the only conference designed for health IT and EMR vendors.
• The National Conference on Health Information Capture – offering insights into the key to successful EMR adoption, healthcare documentation
• EMR Seminars – intimate programs that address trends in HIT and EMRs
• TEHRE – Towards the Electronic Health Record in Europe – annual programs designed to highlight international developments in HIT and EMRs
• And more…

Medical Records Institute also actively contributes to the library of knowledge on electronic medical records through publications and surveys. For nearly a decade, Medical Records Institute has been tracking and reporting on EMR trends through its annual Survey on EMR Trends and Usage. Updated every year to capture the progression of current health IT trends, this survey provides insight into why EMRs are being implemented, which applications are most important to users, and the use of the Continuity of Care Record.

Most recently, MRI has expanded its online resources, with the development of a host of online tools and the expansion of their website. In response to the growing demand from buyers for unbiased, independent and transparent comparisons of ambulatory electronic medical record (EMR) systems, and healthcare IT consultants, MRI offers a series of Compare tools. EMRCompare(sm), the flagship in the series debuted at the 2007 TEPR Conference. This free online tool has been designed to provide physicians and others with broader, more transparent information than is available elsewhere about EMR systems, including cost, functionality, and usability. In 2008, MRI introduced HIT ConsultantCompare (sm). Modeled on EMRCompare, this free online tool was designed to help ambulatory and inpatient providers select consultants to assist them in the transition to, utilization of, and expansion of health IT and electronic medical records in their settings.

Today, Waegemann and MRI’s vice president, Claudia Tessier, continue to uphold the views and the needs of the industry under Waegemann’s original vision. Among the most sought-after experts in the field of implementation of EMRs, these recognized thought leaders actively shape the future of health IT though regular contributions to industry publications, speaking engagements, and involvement in healthcare and standards development originations, nationally and internationally. They strive to bring together representatives from throughout the healthcare industry and stimulate them with the most updated and critical information, constantly encouraging others to join in the mission towards the adoption of electronic medical records.