History of Computers in Healthcare

1960s Billing is the Center of the Universe

Jan 1, 1960

*Mainframe computers
*Centralized processing
*Few vendor-developed products

1970s Debut of minicomputer

Jan 1, 1970

*Mainframes still in use
8Minicomputers become available, smaller and more affordable

1980s Computers for the Masses

Jan 1, 1980

*Unveiling of the microcomputer
*Advent of local area network

1990s Advent of the Internet

Jan 1, 1990

*Unveiling of the Internet
*Internet revolutionizes how organizations communicate with each other, market services and conduct business
*Cost of hardware drops

2000s Health Care IT Arrives

Jan 1, 2000

*Internet use moves to new level
*Voice recognition rebounds
*PDA's and multipurpose cell phones