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EMR and EHR: What are the Differences?

By   |  October 24, 2014

Due to changes in the healthcare industry over the years, many doctors and healthcare practices are now making the change to electronic medical records (EMR) and electronic health records (EHR). While many doctors use the terms EMR and EHR interchangeably, EMR and EHR are distinguished from one another in several ways.

EMR vs. EHR: The Differences

EMRs are electronic replacements for paper medical records, and are generated through a patient's visit to one particular medical practice. EMRs offer doctors several advantages, including the ability to improve the quality of patient care within their practice, and identifying patients who are due for an annual office visit, or specific preventative health screening, such as a pap test or mammogram. EMRs are also used as diagnostic and treatment aides.

Because an EMR is one doctor's record of a patient's health information, other doctors cannot see this information unless it is printed out and sent out by mail. In that sense, an EMR is no different than a paper medical record. Meanwhile, according to the National Alliance for Health Information Technology, information contained in an EHR information system, "can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one healthcare organization.

EHRs provide a more comprehensive view of the patient's health and care history than a EMR, although they serve many of the same basic functions. With EHRs, doctors of any specialty who have been involved in caring for that patient can view and contribute relevant information to that patient's record. All of the information contained in an EHR can be shared between different specialists, hospitals, and nursing homes. Patients can also use EHRs to manage and access their own health information in a secure manner.

Although EHR and EMR differ from one another, adding an EMR or EHR portal to your website will help increase convenience and efficiency for both you and your patients.

Looking to Add an EMR or EHR Portal to Your Website? Let Dr. Leonardo Help.

You can learn how to seamlessly integrate an Electronic Health Record (EHR) or Electronic Medical Record (EMR) portal to your practice's website by using Dr. Leonardo. Contact us today to learn more about what we offer!