Evolution of an integrated HIS in the Netherlands

This article considers the 26 years history of an integrated hospital information system (HIS). The system emerged from an experimental government sponsored project in the Leiden University Hospital and is non; the leading HIS in The Netherlands. The evolution during these 26 years is presented and discussed in this article with an emphasis on the organisational setting and financing besides the aspects functionality, technology:architecture and evaluation aspects. Recently HISCOM was acquired by the BAAN-group completing the evolution and bringing the HIS to the international health care IT market. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.