MEDITECH's 50th Anniversary

The U.S. Social Security Act Amendments are signed into law on July 30, 1965, establishing Medicare and Medicaid health insurance for some of the most vulnerable populations. This legislation would challenge providers to accommodate an enormous influx of new patients.

In 1966, MIT graduate A. Neil Pappalardo and his colleagues establish the first computer software language for the hospital environment. The MUMPS technology continues to be used today by many large hospitals for high-throughput transaction data processing.

In 1968, Pappalardo and his business partners found Medical Information Technologies Inc. (MEDITECH), a Massachusetts-based company creating lab IT systems for healthcare organizations. It officially opens for business on August 4, 1969.

Healthcare costs rise dramatically during this decade of inflation, increasing hospital expenses and profits, and driving greater use of medical technology. New MRI and CT scans show how digital technologies can improve early diagnosis and treatments.

The Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) Act of 1973 is enacted, providing federal endorsement, certification, and assistance for prepaid group health plans.

MEDITECH expands its product line to encompass a more integrated healthcare information system (HIS). In 1979, the company also releases a powerful new I.T. platform called MAGIC, the foundation of MEDITECH’s software for the next decade.

U.S. healthcare shifts toward increased privatization and a more corporate (profit-based) focus. Medicare shifts to payment by diagnosis (DRG), instead of by treatment, and private health insurance plans soon follow suit.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic and rising cocaine use highlight a growing need for more proactive education and public health strategies. At the same time, commercial cell phones and the first Macintosh PCs set the stage for more informed, tech-savvy consumers.

MEDITECH continues to grow its integrated MAGIC product line, while also expanding into international territory with new customers in Canada and Saudi Arabia.

Healthcare reform fails, and costs rise at double the rate of inflation despite Managed Care efforts. By the decade’s end, 44 million Americans are living without health insurance.

The Internet opens up a whole new world for patients to have greater access to healthcare information, while email makes communication between providers (as well as between providers and patients) both easier and faster.

With the introduction of HIPAA and the IOM’s “To Err is Human” report on medical errors, clinicians must take on greater responsibility for providing safer, more secure, and higher quality care. MEDITECH introduces its new, user-friendly Client/Server IT platform.

In 2000, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the initial sequencing of the human genome, an achievement that would advance prevention, diagnosis, and treatment strategies for many genetic disorders.

MEDITECH introduces its 6.0 EHR platform as the first step towards a truly integrated, interoperable healthcare ideal. The company now has a growing presence in all 50 U.S. states, as well as Canada, the UK, Ireland, and South Africa.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act creates financial incentives for the adoption and meaningful use of EHRs. Interest and investment in EHRs skyrocket, but true culture change takes time.

As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) expands cost-efficient healthcare insurance coverage across the U.S., providers are pushed to adopt care delivery methods that emphasize value. More healthcare organizations undertake population health and predictive surveillance strategies as a result.

The opioid crisis, as well as increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, highlights the need for providers to build stronger relationships with patients and promote wellness. The integration of MEDITECH’s Patient Portal with wearable activity trackers empowers patients to take more responsibility for their own health.

As healthcare expands far beyond the walls of the hospital and physician’s office, administrative demands on clinicians begin to take their toll. MEDITECH Expanse - the first entirely web-based EHR - offers them a more mobile, personalized user experience, while connecting the complete patient story across all care settings and networks.