The　appropriate　collection　and　consumption　of　electronic　health　information　about　an　individual　patient　or　population　is　the　bedrock　of　modern　healthcare,　where　electronic　medical　records　(EMR)　serve　as　the　main　carrier.　This　paper　first　introduces　the　main　goal　of　this　special　issue　and　gives　a　brief　guideline.　Then,　the　present　situation　of　the　adoption　of　EMRs　is　reviewed.　After　that,　the　emerging　information　technologies　are　presented　which　have　a　great　impact　on　the　healthcare　provision.　These　include　health　sensing　for　medical　data　collection,　medical　data　analysis　and　utilization　for　accurate　detection　and　prediction.　Next,　cloud　computing　is　discussed,　as　it　may　provide　scalable　and　cost-effective　delivery　of　healthcare　services.　Accordingly,　the　current　state　of　academic　research　is　documented　on　emerging　information　technologies　for　new　paradigms　of　healthcare　service.　At　last,　conclusions　are　made.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.