The medical record is now mandated to be in an electronic format.  This is due to the passing of the a law on healthcare reform.  This process is a staged in that health care providers are given the opportunity to implement in a piece meal fashion. Meaning full use was a part of the implementation process that paid provider as they achieved certain mile stones.  Some tried and others did not, he deadline is fast approaching. Read more...http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/