EMRIS

Electronic Medical Records Implementation Services

What Are Electronic Health Records (EHRs)?

EHRs are, at their simplest, digital (computerized) versions of patients’ paper charts. But EHRs, when fully up and running, are so much more than that.


EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records. They make information available instantly, “whenever and wherever it is needed”. And they bring together in one place everything about a patient’s health. EHRs can:

  • Contain information about a patient’s medical history, diagnoses, medications, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and lab and test results
  • Offer access to evidence-based tools that providers can use in making decisions about a patient’s care
  • Automate and streamline providers’ workflow
  • Increase organization and accuracy of patient information
  • Support key market changes in payer requirements and consumer expectations

 

One of the key features of an EHR is that it can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized providers and staff across more than one health care organization. A single EHR can bring together information from current and past doctors, emergency facilities, school and workplace clinics, pharmacies, laboratories, and medical imaging facilities.

What are Electronic Medical Record (EMRs)?

An EMR contains the standard medical and clinical data gathered in one provider’s office. Electronic health records (EHRs) go beyond the data collected in the provider’s office and include a more comprehensive patient history.


For example, EHRs are designed to contain and share information from all providers involved in a patient’s care. EHR data can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized providers and staff from across more than one health care organization.

Unlike EMRs, EHRs also allow a patient’s health record to move with them—to other health care providers, specialists, hospitals, nursing homes, and even across states. For more information about electronic medical records and the differences between EMR vs EHR.

An electronic medical record (EMR) is a digital version of a paper chart that contains all of a patient’s medical history from one practice. An EMR is mostly used by providers for diagnosis and treatment.

Benefits of Electronic Medical Records

An EMR is more beneficial than paper records because it allows providers to:

  • Track data over time
  • Identify patients who are due for preventive visits and screenings
  • Monitor how patients measure up to certain parameters, such as vaccinations and blood pressure readings
  • Improve overall quality of care in a practice

 

The information stored in EMRs is not easily shared with providers outside of a practice. A patient’s record might even have to be printed out and delivered by mail to specialists and other members of the care team.