EHR
Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient's paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. While an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) contains the standard medical and clinical data gathered in one provider’s office, an EHR goes beyond the data collected in the provider’s office and includes a more comprehensive patient history.
Components[edit | edit source]
EHRs typically include:
- Patient demographics
- Medical history
- Medications and allergies
- Immunization status
- Laboratory test results
- Radiology images
- Vital signs
- Billing information
Benefits[edit | edit source]
EHRs offer several benefits over traditional paper records:
- Improved patient care through better data availability
- Enhanced coordination of care among healthcare providers
- Increased patient participation in their own care
- Improved diagnostics and patient outcomes
- Enhanced efficiency and cost savings
Challenges[edit | edit source]
Despite their benefits, EHRs also present several challenges:
- High initial costs for implementation
- Ongoing maintenance and training costs
- Privacy and security concerns
- Potential for data breaches
- Interoperability issues between different EHR systems
Interoperability[edit | edit source]
Interoperability is the ability of different EHR systems to communicate and exchange information. This is crucial for providing comprehensive care, especially when patients see multiple healthcare providers. Efforts to improve interoperability include the development of standards such as HL7 and FHIR.
Regulations[edit | edit source]
In many countries, the adoption and use of EHRs are regulated by government policies. In the United States, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) promotes the adoption and meaningful use of health information technology.
Related Pages[edit | edit source]
- Electronic Medical Record
- Health Information Technology
- Patient portal
- Telemedicine
- Health Information Exchange
See Also[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
