Introduction
Procedures and policies in the healthcare industry are constantly evolving. The EHR (electronic health record) and the EMR (electronic medical record) are an example of the few tools that have been developed and implemented throughout the advancement of healthcare technology.
As complementary technological innovations, the EHR and EMR offer greater benefits when used together than when used separately. To ensure the success and effectiveness of your technology investment and your practice, it is essential to understand the various applications and the differences between an EMR and an EHR.
What Exactly Do They Mean?
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): You might have seen that doctors keep paper charts in their offices, displaying their patients’ conditions. These have now digitally evolved into EMRs. A patient’s medical treatment background is stored in an EMR. Compared to paper records, EMRs have several benefits. Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) help doctors monitor specific parameters (such as the blood pressure or vaccination records of their patients) to determine which patients are in need of checkups or screenings. They also help doctors to supervise and improve patients’ overall condition and provide quality care.
Electronic Health Records (EHRs): EHRs perform all of the functions of an EMR, as well as many others. In addition to the usual standard clinical data stored in the provider’s office, EHRs offer a wider view of a patient’s treatment and care. Data collected and compiled in EHRs is intended to be shared with parties other than the health organization that originally collected and compiled the data.
Thus, EHRs are structured to distribute information with other health care facilities like laboratories and professionals, so that they can store the data from all the doctors that are a part of the patient’s care. The National Alliance for Health Information Technology has also affirmed that EHR data “can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one healthcare organization.” Despite the fact that many healthcare workers use EHRs and EMRs on a daily basis, we rarely comprehend the rich history of this innovative solution.
History
Larry Weed first proposed the EMR theory in the late 1960s as a way to store and document patient medical data electronically rather than on paper, so that a possible third party could independently confirm a diagnosis. It was the management of medical data that was the aim of Weed’s vision. A hospital information system was another name given to such systems.
The Regenstrief Institute developed and structured the first electronic medical record (EMR) in 1972, which was widely hailed as a major breakthrough in medical and healthcare practice. However, mostly government hospitals used this EMR because of its high prices; thus at that time, EMRs weren’t widely used.
Fast-forward to US President George W. Bush’s administration, the funding for healthcare IT projects was increased, and electronic health record systems had to be adopted by the entire industry. Healthcare workers who adopt EMR systems were also eligible for additional financial support and incentives under this mandate, which was then supported by US President Barack Obama.
Today’s Most Popular EMRs
1. EpicCare
Patients can have their healthcare documented over time by using an ambulatory solution such as EpicCare. From scheduling appointments to payments and billing, health companies and organizations worldwide use it to manage a bunch of their everyday tasks and operations.
2. WebPT
A cloud-based clinical product, WebPT enables physicians and healthcare professionals to keep a record of their patient information, store that data and share important information with other doctors and clinicians
3. TherapyNotes
Mental health services can use TherapyNotes’s cloud-based EHR software. To enhance the quality of care, treatment facilities of all sizes and shapes depend upon it to automate assignments, optimize everyday activities, and improve workflows.
Conclusion
Electronic Medical Records and Electronic Health Records (or EMRs and EHRs) are sometimes used synonymously. At first glance, it may seem like a small distinction but there’s actually a massive one. EMR was the first term to be coined, and early EMRs which were introduced were technically “medical.” They were primarily intended for use by healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients.
‘Health’, on the other hand, refers to ‘the state of being sound in the body and mind…notably the absence of physical ailments, disease or pain…and the overall state of the body.’ When it comes to “health,” the word “medical” does not cover as much ground. Thus, EHRs go a lot further than EMRs in comparison.
