Web-based sharing of knowledge: A new model for migration to electronic records

Although electronic medical records. (EMR) have become a reality, only 2-3% of the provider community - we could call them the pioneers - have adopted them to date. A critical challenge is the problem of clinician data capture. We have found that solving this problem requires custom tailoring of the EMR to reach the optimum balance between text and structured data, and to match the individual styles and specialties of medical practice. However, the full costs of this customization would be too high if borne by each and every provider organization. We describe a new approach to this problem: the creation of a web-based online community for the exchange of customized clinical data capture designs. In the tradition of medical science and education, the pioneers publish and share their work freely in a forum that allows others to not only re-use it, but also to build upon it. By harnessing cooperation, rather than competition, between the first adopters of EMR, we are removing a major barrier and accelerating the migration to electronic records.