As a pioneer in the application of information technology (IT) in the healthcare field, Fujitsu was the first company in Japan to develop a software suite for medical institutions. Ever since, it has advanced together with its customers. At first, it was engaged in introducing IT to departments involved in work such as insurance claims and accounting and clinical laboratory examinations. As IT use in individual departments progressed, it moved toward overall integration and developed a computerized physician order entry system. Now, it is digitizing patient medical records that were originally handwritten on paper by doctors, leading to the development of electronic medical records. During all this progress, target markets expanded from the medical field to include health, nursing, and the healthcare industry. Today, as it strives to address the familiar concerns of public safety and security, Fujitsu is playing the role of a social infrastructure provider. This article outlines this history and discusses today's healthcare solutions and future ones.
