An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a record that outlines the medical history of an individual. The record is stored electronically by multiple healthcare entities with the authorisation of the patient. Information disclosed in the EHR would include any results or findings from a patient’s completed tests, ongoing and discontinued medications used by the patient, and various other details belonging to the patient such as immunizations. An EHR also stores any payments details needed for the entity to receive payment from the patient and/or their insurance company.
An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a record that outlines the medical history of an individual; however, this record is stored by only a single healthcare entity. The record is stored with similar information to that of an EHR and may also contain healthcare coverage details and banking information.
What else is different between EHR and EMR?
EHRS are interoperable. This describes the ease in which a record disclosing patient data can be share between various systems. For a patient, an interoperable record will allow them to move from one healthcare entity to another for treatment, and their data is transferred with ease. An EMR is not interoperable as the record is stored by the single healthcare entity. This increases the difficulty of a patient receiving consultancy or treatment by another healthcare entity.
Why might an EHR be superior to an EMR?
At present, EHR is becoming increasingly popular, and is shaping the future of healthcare data storage. With use of EHR, patient data is easily transferable between any operators in the healthcare industry. The technology systems in EHR are extremely advanced, and the digital record can avail of additional tools to intelligently organise and react to data belonging to patients. The EHR software is also designed to issue reminders of upcoming treatments and check-ups to patients. Although EMR is concerned with the wellbeing of the patient, EHR focuses on the bigger picture, building a record of individual patients with many channels to receive and distribute information from. If the patient moves from one healthcare entity to another form of healthcare provider, the information moves with that individual.
Summary of differences between EHR and EMR
EHR
- record stored electronically by multiple healthcare entities
- interoperable- easy to transfer data between healthcare entities
- wider range of information disclosed
EMR
- record stored electronically by a single healthcare entity
- not interoperable- difficult to transfer data between healthcare entities
- less thorough record with less total information stored#
- higher quality of information stored- more care may be taken by the single entity
