One of the earliest data processing systems was introduced in the early 1960’s and its main focus was medical data management.
The big difference to understand is that not all EMR’s work well with other provider’s EMR systems, which effectively means it cannot be easily shared and distributed in the same way an EHR can. Speaking broadly, an electronic medical record is very similar to an electronic health record, but generally, it contains the information necessary for diagnosis and treatment. The terms electronic health record and electronic medical record are often used interchangeably in the medical community, but it’s important to understand their distinction.
What is the Difference Between EHR’s and EMR’s? The EHR system is built to do even more than just house records, in fact, they’re designed to ultimately improve patient’s care. While having a quick to access medical records is one of the key features of EHR’s, their ability to be updated in real-time and securely shared with the medical professionals which are tending to the patient. It’s advances in technology that have enabled us to be able to wholly utilize electronic health records and take advantage of their many benefits in our society.įor those less familiar with EHR’s and the important role they play, below is an overview of what they are, the reason they were developed, what we gain from having them and how they ultimately improve patient care.Įlectronic Health Records are, essentially, a patient’s paper chart and medical history neatly packaged into a digital version. It’s all too easy to think of Electronic Health Records (EHR’s) as one of those medical staples that have always been around given how seamlessly they have integrated themselves into doctor’s offices and hospitals worldwide, but they weren’t always so widely available.