The Pentagon is releasing an open-source version of the electronic health record software used on the battlefield. It's meant for rough and remote situations. Medics need only a laptop to document troops' injuries in a way that can be stored and transmitted later when connected to a network.

While most doctors don't have to deal with such austere conditions, Defense Department officials thought it would be helpful to them too. They said releasing the software's code would encourage greater adoption of electronic health records. They also hoped to leverage new users and developers' skills to refine the software.

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