Introduction:
Medical records, provided that they are properly kept, are of great importance for all participants of the health care system, i.e. patients, medical staff, managers of medical facilities, and the National Health Insurance Fund. Annually, in the system of health care passes information concerning more than 2 billion heath services. Each day, in Poland, a billion data pertaining to medical events are added, 7 billion data concerning medical services, and 38 billion data about examinations performed with medical equipment. In order to manage such a tremendous amount of data, computer science solutions are helpful, which allow more efficient creation and administration of patients’ medical records. Information technology is increasingly more often considered as an important instrument for an improvement of patient safety, effectiveness and quality of care, especially by promoting the practice of evidence based medicine. From among all computer solutions in the area of health care which are currently used, the electronic medical records system (EMR) has the chance to bring about the greatest benefits. As soon as within a year, using electronic medical records will become a common legislative duty of medical facilities providing health services. It is noteworthy that a considerable part of medical facilities implemented e-records systems even before the issuing of the Act in the matter of this requirement, in order to improve the quality of their functioning. Key words: electronic medical records, information technology implementation, health care system