Final answer:
The statement is true. Electronic medical record systems originated in the late 1980s with the increase in computer use and the need to manage health-care information, which later included medical imaging data.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that electronic medical record systems originated in the late 1980s and were based on imaging and the merging of data from various stand-alone systems is TRUE. By the end of the 1980s, widespread usage of computers and microprocessors had become common in various industries, including healthcare. Financial, educational, and health-care information began to be stored and managed by computer systems during this period.
Healthcare trends in the 1990s included consolidation of providers and growth of new services like urgent care offices, and these developments contributed to a greater need for intertwined digital records. These digital records provided a foundation for improving the quality of healthcare and reducing costs by enabling easier sharing of medical records among health providers. The advancement in electronic devices, and thus the use of personal computers in business and homes, also facilitated the possibility of having electronic health records.
Medical imaging technologies like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans, which began in the late 19th century, certainly influenced the development of electronic medical records, by providing a digital means to store, retrieve, and share complex medical data.