As we see information systems in the healthcare setting mature and become more widely integrated, we believe that there is value in revisiting our understanding of record-keeping by healthcare professionals with respect to their patients. This involves understanding that information is different from the media on which it is stored or displayed, that healthcare delivery systems require portions of that information for efficient and effective operations, payors need access to portions of that information, governments and very large provider organizations require epidemiologic and "best practices" analyses of the information.