The field of health services research faces significant challenges as it aims to address pressing issues of quality and cost in the US healthcare system. Major advances in the availability of electronic clinical data (ECD) provide the opportunity to address questions that are important to the recipients, providers, and purchasers of health care. This is where eGEMs has a role to play, meeting an expressed need in the scientific community by disseminating approaches and methods for using ECD. eGEMs can help researchers address these important questions and consider strategies to further improve the US healthcare system.