What is EHR?

An Electronic Health Record (EHR), also known as Electronic Medical Record (EMR), is a digital version of a patient's medical history and health information. It is a comprehensive electronic record that contains a patient's medical and treatment history, laboratory test results, medications, allergies, immunizations, and other relevant healthcare information.

EHRs are designed to replace traditional paper-based records and provide a more efficient, accurate, and secure system for managing patient health information. They are typically used by healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, to store and access patient records.

Here are some key features and benefits of Electronic Health Records:

1. Centralized Information: EHRs consolidate all relevant patient information into a single digital record, making it easily accessible to authorized healthcare providers. This improves coordination and continuity of care across different healthcare settings.

2. Accessibility and Availability: EHRs can be accessed by authorized healthcare providers from different locations, allowing for immediate and simultaneous access to a patient's medical information. This enhances the efficiency of healthcare delivery and facilitates timely decision-making.

3. Comprehensive Record: EHRs provide a comprehensive view of a patient's health, including medical history, diagnoses, medications, lab results, and more. This helps healthcare providers make more informed clinical decisions and provide appropriate care.

4. Decision Support: EHRs often include built-in decision support tools, such as drug interaction alerts, clinical guidelines, and reminders, to assist healthcare providers in delivering safe and evidence-based care.

5. Improved Patient Safety: EHRs reduce the potential for errors associated with manual paper-based records, such as illegible handwriting or misplaced charts. Electronic records also facilitate accurate medication management, allergy alerts, and other safety features.

6. Interoperability: EHR systems aim to facilitate data exchange and interoperability between different healthcare organizations, ensuring that patient health information can be securely shared across different systems and providers. This promotes seamless care coordination and continuity.

It is important to note that the use of EHRs is subject to privacy and security regulations to ensure the confidentiality and protection of patient health information. Health organizations and providers must adhere to strict standards, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, to safeguard patient privacy.

EHRs have become an integral part of modern healthcare systems, streamlining workflows, improving patient care, and contributing to the overall efficiency and accuracy of healthcare delivery.

There are many others of course. Two useful resources defining the EHR are:

• ISO DTR 20514 - Electronic Health Record Definition, Scope and Context

• ISO 18308:2011 - Requirements for an Electronic Health Record Reference Architecture