People unfamiliar with healthcare technology and associated terminology often interchange the terms EMR/EHR systems. While they seem the same, the two have marked differences. These differences eventually result in the development decisions of both EHR and EMR software systems. In this section, we will explore those differences in detail.
Electronic medical records are digital versions of a patient’s medical chart created at a clinic or hospital. It is created when a person goes to a clinic and gets tested. Although EMRs enable providers at a single facility to coordinate care, they cannot be transferred to other organizations. Moreover, the patients are only allowed to take their EMRs in the clinic that creates and maintains them. EMRs contain all about the diagnoses and treatments done by providers at one clinic.
How Do EMR Systems Differ From EHR Systems?
On the other hand, an electronic health record is like a digital record of a patient’s overall health. It would contain information about the tests, diagnoses, prescriptions, and treatments done by doctors from all organizations throughout the patient’s life. In other words, an EHR is a comprehensive picture of a person’s medical history.
Unlike an EMR, an EHR is highly versatile and can be shared with providers from multiple healthcare organizations. Additionally, EHR software systems enable physicians and providers from multiple organizations to collaborate on patient care. This is especially helpful for people who need specialist opinions and regular care. Moreover, the ability to pool together the expertise of multiple medical professionals helps people suffering from rare diseases immensely. Doctors can also share their notes by uploading them on the EHR software, facilitating meaningful coordination.
Needless to point out, these differences are important considerations when providers need to choose between EMR solutions and EHR systems. Software for electronic medical records would have more features compared to that for electronic health records.
Additionally, the size and location of a medical organization also play a part. A small, single-physician practice away from an urban location could do enough with an EMR. On the other hand, a larger organization with multiple providers and services would generally need EHR software to serve its patients adequately. Such a place would generally see more patients daily and offer more services. Depending on its location and services offered, it is also highly likely to refer its patients elsewhere.
These factors represent the fundamental differences between an EHR and an EMR. Although many people use them interchangeably, they are not the same. It is safe to say that EMRs came before EHRs at the very beginning of tech adoption in healthcare. But it was only a matter of time before the medical community realized the importance of collaboration through information sharing. EHRs make it easy to share medical data and serve patients better. These are the factors that providers consider when choosing one of the two.
