In 2004, President Bush called for widespread adoption of interconnected electronic health records (EHRs) within 10 years.1 The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been charged with leading these efforts, including developing the Nationwide Health Information Network (NHIN). Although the specifics of the NHIN and its component organizations are still being developed, it is envisioned as a public-private partnership of health information organizations using common electronic formats, thereby enabling ease of access to EHRs through any secure portal. The NHIN will link health records maintained in hospitals, physicians' offices, clinics, and other locations.