What’s the difference between EHR and EMR?

Many people use the terms EHR and EMR interchangeably but these two are not the same. An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a digital version of a chart with patient information stored in a computer. On the other hand, an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital record of health information. An EHR also has to meet MARCA requirements and EMR Systems offers dedicated MIPS Resource Centre to assist practices to prepare for the coming new rules. Below is a table outlining the fundamental differences between an EMR and an EHR.

In its essence, the EMR refers to information you’d find in a paper chart, such as medical history, immunization dates, medications, diagnoses and allergies. EMRs don’t allow information to travel outside the practice, easily.

EHR refers to digital records of health information. Not only the contain all information found on a paper chart, they also include medications, past medical history, diagnoses, progress notes, vital signs, allergies, immunization dates, lab data and imaging reports. Some good EHR companies also offer software containing other relevant information, such as demographic data, insurance information, and even data from other EHRs and similar personal wellness devices.

In a nutshell, the true benefit an EHR lies not only in the data it contains but its ability to share it. Rapid transfer of health records can prove to be vital in saving lives, especially in emergency conditions. EHRs makes medical information of people instantly accessible to authorized providers in different health organizations and assists them in making clinical decisions and coordinate care. An EHR can also be shared with organizations involved in a patient’s care such as pharmacies, labs, imaging facilities, emergency facilities, and workplace clinics.