The Electronic Health Record (EHR)– then called the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or Computerized Patient Record (CPR)– received it first real validation in an Institute of Medicine's (IOM) report in 1991 entitled "The Computer-Based Patient Record: An Essential Technology for Health Care IOM drove home the idea that the EHR is needed to transform the health system to improve quality and enhance safety.

The specialty of family medicine has also stated that the EHR is a core technology for the future of family medicine in the Future of Family Medicine Project. This project outlines a "New Model" of care for family medicine with the EHR as "the central nervous system" of that model. The EHR becomes a tool through which the family medicine office can transform practices to meet its needs and the needs of its patients. Enhanced workflows and access to information make the practice of medicine more efficient for physicians and their staff. Decision support and automated reminders help the practice deliver safer and higher quality care to patients and the community.

The EHR is about quality, safety, and efficiency. It is a great tool for physicians, but cannot ensure these virtues in isolation. Achieving the true benefits of EHR systems requires the transformation of practices, based on quality improvement methodologies, system and team based care, and evidence-based medicine.

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