The Department of Health and Human Services last week awarded four contracts valued at $18.6 million to four companies to develop electronic health records systems in 12 U.S. regions.

Accenture, Computer Sciences, IBM and Northrop Grumman each will develop EHR systems for three regions over the next year. The systems will serve as role models for the rest of the country.
 
The companies must establish personal electronic health records and provide physicians with affordable online access to patient records, diagnostic information and billing. All of the systems must be compatible.
 
Last month, HHS awarded three contracts valued at $17.5 million to three private groups to develop software standards, standards for the certification of EHR products and healthcare privacy regulations.
(Published 11-14-05)