What is the difference between an electronic health record and an electronic medical record
| Aspect | Electronic Health Record (EHR) | Electronic Medical Record (EMR) |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A digital record of a patient's health information that includes a comprehensive view of the patient's medical history, treatment, and care across multiple healthcare providers and settings. | A digital record of a patient's medical information within a single healthcare organization or practice, often focused on clinical data and patient encounters within that organization. |
| Scope | Encompasses a wide range of health information, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, allergies, laboratory results, imaging, treatment plans, progress notes, and more. | Primarily focuses on clinical data generated and used within a specific healthcare organization, such as clinical notes, prescription history, and test results from that organization. |
| Data Sharing | Facilitates data sharing and interoperability across different healthcare providers, allowing for a comprehensive view of a patient's health history across various care settings. | Typically does not share data outside the specific healthcare organization or practice where the EMR is used, limiting data access to that organization's providers. |
| Portability | Provides portability of health records, allowing patients to access their EHRs and share them with different healthcare providers, improving continuity of care. | Lacks portability beyond the organization using the EMR, making it challenging for patients to transfer their records to other providers. |
| Integration | Integrates data from multiple sources and healthcare settings, enabling healthcare providers to access and update patient information across different care settings. | Integrates data within the confines of the specific healthcare organization, supporting internal clinical workflows and operations. |
| Continuity of Care | Enhances continuity of care by providing a comprehensive patient history to healthcare providers, enabling more informed treatment decisions and reducing duplication of tests. | Supports continuity of care within the healthcare organization but may not provide a complete patient history if care is sought outside of that organization. |
| Interoperability | Emphasizes interoperability, allowing for data exchange with other EHR systems, pharmacies, laboratories, and healthcare entities, improving care coordination. | May have limited interoperability, primarily supporting data exchange within the specific healthcare organization and potentially facing challenges in sharing data externally. |
| Patient Engagement | Promotes patient engagement by offering patient portals that allow individuals to access their health information, schedule appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers. | May offer limited patient engagement features, primarily focused on appointment scheduling and viewing clinical summaries within the organization. |
| Data Security | Adheres to robust data security and privacy standards to protect patient information, including encryption, access controls, and audit trails. | Maintains data security within the organization's systems but may have fewer security features for external data sharing. |
| Regulatory Compliance | Complies with national standards and regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), to safeguard patient privacy and data security. | Also complies with regulatory standards but primarily focuses on data within the organization, with potentially fewer external compliance requirements. |
| Use in Research | Supports research and population health initiatives by providing access to large datasets of de-identified patient information while protecting patient privacy. | May not be as readily accessible for research purposes due to limited data sharing outside the organization |