Understanding the Difference Between EMR and EHR
Technology seems to be penetrating every industry and healthcare is not an exception. The time has come when we can witness a voluminous medical app market and not just that technologies such as EHR (Electronic Health Records) and EMR (Electronic Medical Records) are seen making a huge impact. The wise will recognize and ride this trend. Those who ignore it will do so at their peril. The following post gives a better idea regarding what EHR and EMR are, how they can be beneficial in the long run and how the two concepts are different from each other.
For a layman person, EHR and EMR are the two famous acronyms used most simultaneously in the healthcare industry. Many times these two acronyms are often used interchangeably. But let me tell you, these two are not the same, Though they might sound the same but are pretty different, especially in regards to their meanings. EMR stands for Electronic Medical Record whereas EHR stands for Electronic Health Record. EHR is a way deeper concept than EMR. So without further ado, let’s delve into the details of the two.
What is EMR (Electronic Medical Record)?
The EMR technology ensures that a patient’s medical history is gathered and successfully maintained by the healthcare provider. Every tits and bit of the patient’s information including their demographics, medications, allergies, immunizations, lab results, radiology reports, doctor’s visits, billing information, insurance policies, and mediclaims, every detail can be found in the electronic medical record.
Other than gathering such crucial information and storing the data, electronic medical records can also assist in several other manners such as:
All, thanks to the online patient portals, now it is possible to offer patients access to their medical data
Prescribing medications when in need
Conducting easy and simple laboratory tests
Seamless built-in integrations with coding and billing software
Further below I would like to mention some of the core benefits of considering electronic medical records.
EMR: How is it Beneficial?
#1 Enhanced Patient Care
The first and foremost benefit of using an electronic medical record is that it ensures enhanced patient care. In today’s ever-changing scenarios, even medical professionals are asked to keep up with the changing trends. Now chances are there that your family physician might not know everything and that’s where the role of these digital data systems comes in.
These kinds of electronic media records lead to easy access to information, and enhanced relationships, making medical practices way easier for doctors, nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals.
#2 Precise Information
Another benefit of using such technology is that here there is no scope for any mistakes or goof-ups. Humans do tend to make mistakes and doctors are no longer an exception. However, what’s more exceptional here is the use of such technology ensures that no information is misinterpreted. Moreover, there is no scope for any kind of confusion. Apart from precise information and data, healthcare practitioners can easily collect, compile and provide information in such a manner that it wasn’t easy to do during earlier stages when we used paper files.
Now the information is no longer just in the form of text but pie charts and graphs, so that even patients can understand what exactly is going on. Every single aspect from cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight, and sugar levels can be displayed in a single go. In addition, it is possible to manage chronic diseases and screening targets leading to better quality care for the patients.
#3 Thoroughly Secured
Yes, another interesting benefit of such technology is that it is thoroughly secured. Well, with so many security breaches happening every now and then, healthcare organizations have become way more attentive in considering softwares and solutions that are highly secured and cannot be compromised at any rate. Electronic Medical Record definitely works wonders here. The system is so highly secured that it can only be accessible by authorized persons. So there is no scope for any information to be misplaced or stolen by the bad guys. A full-fledged highly secured system is at your service.
Overall, using electronic medical records does enhance the quality care of the patients and also, takes good care of their safety. In fact, these EMR systems can also try placing orders for the relevant medications for the patient. So you no longer need to make doctor’s visits as soon as your medications are over. Any healthcare professional can view the medical history of the patient. So even if your healthcare professional is on leave, the other one can quickly go through your medical history via these systems and prescribe you some relevant medicines. Apart from these clinical summaries featuring care provided, medicines prescribed, follow-up dates and other anecdotes are offered. So retaining crucial information within a short span of time is quite possible. So on and all, EMR systems do ensure well-rounded, personalized and efficient care for patients.
Moving on! Enough being said about electronic medical records, now it’s time to focus on the next amazing technology, i.e. EHR - Electronic Health Record.
What is EHR (Electronic Health Record)?
It may quite interest you to know that medical practitioners all across the globe have been using different sets of medical softwares to manage their patients and care providers. And that’s where EHR comes into play! EHR- Electronic Health Record was developed with the objective of consolidating a patient’s medical chart into different kinds of digital documents. These documents consist of the patient’s medical history, medications, allergies, radiology images, treatment plans, lab results and whatnot! In fact, Electronic Health Record tends to play a major role in making relevant decisions for the patient’s benefit.
Now there are three key functions of an EHR system-
Identifying and maintaining patient record
Managing Patient Demographics
Managing health concerns
Further, without much delay, I would like to mention some of the core benefits of using such electronic health record systems.
EHR: How is it Beneficial?
EHR provides a wide range of benefits for both patients as well as healthcare providers. In fact, now physicians can exchange information remotely and that too in real-time. And what’s more, it is that this classified information can be highly customized and configured in accordance with the changing requirements and medical practices. So here are a few crucial advantages of considering electronic Health Record systems.
#1 Better Quality of Care
An electronic health record assists well in providing better care for their patients by offering quick, easy and seamless access to patient’s records, leading to more and more efficient care. This eventually results in enhanced treatment, improved productivity and increased operational efficiency.
Speaking from the healthcare provider’s or healthcare professional’s point of view, most electronic health records incorporate the scope of offering accurate health analytics that assists well in recognizing relevant patterns, predicting proper diagnosis and recommending potential treatment options. These analytics result in more accurate and successful patient care. And do you know what is the best part, gone are the days when healthcare practitioners were supposed to rely on trial-and-error methods.
Speaking from the patient’s point of view, today’s patients are pretty well-educated and do enjoy the perks of ever-changing technology. For example, accessing patient portals easily so that they exactly know what their situation is. Everything from their medical information to lab results and doctor's remarks can be easily accessed. Moreover, Patients can communicate with their physicians by sharing notes, exchanging instant messages and even video calling.
Quick access to patient records
Increase treatment effectiveness
Recommended potential treatment options
Leading to creating better patient-physician communication and better
Enhanced preventive care
#2 Boosts Engagement
Earlier there was a scenario when doctors used to simply prescribe medicine or treatment and the patient would simply obey. Though even today, they obey but with the incorporation of technology, a seamless collaborative environment is found to be successfully established between healthcare professionals and the patients. And not just that more transparency is found where even patients have more say in the matter.
In fact, this EHR technology featuring secured access has encouraged more and more people to take their health into their own hands and actively engage with healthcare providers to stay active. Electronic health records have definitely succeeded in creating long-term relationships between patients and healthcare providers.
#3 No scope for errors
Much like EMR, EHR also excels in regards to delivering the best possible and accurate outcomes, reducing medication errors especially those which were made by doctors earlier before such technology hit. Plus, having instant access to a patient's medical history, allergies, and existing medications definitely saves doctors from prescribing any wrong medications that can harm patients or be life-threatening. So definitely no errors or mistakes mean enhanced patient safety. Most EHR systems tend to prevent medication errors by offering instant alerts and reminders. These can save around $20 billion every year. No kidding! Medical errors can cost you an arm and a leg.
In short, it provides accurate and dated and complete information about the patients, offering efficient and well-coordinated care, seamless sharing of crucial patient information remotely, reducing medical errors, accurate interaction and communication, safe prescriptions, accurate, streamlined coding and billing, enhanced productivity, reduced costs and whatnot, electronic health record systems shouldn’t be ignored at any rate.
Now here comes the big question, so where exactly does the difference lie? Time to compare the two hard-hitting concepts.
Difference Between EMR and EHR
Electronic Medical Record (EMR) | Electronic Health Record (EHR) |
A digital version is available in the form of a chart. | A digital record featuring the patient’s health information. |
Unable to share outside for individual practice | Can be easily shared outside the healthcare organization premises. |
Mainly used by healthcare providers for accurate diagnosis and treatment. | These tools and technologies assist in easy decision-making. |
EMR Specializes in:
Reducing human errors
Increasing productivity and efficiency
Seamless Coordination
Stronger and faster treatment
EHR Specializes in:
Creating a thorough digital patient record
Offering clinical reminders and alerts
Interactive and quite customizable
Designed to reach beyond healthcare organizations
Bottom Line
Both EMR and EHR play a significant role in the healthcare industry as well as in the lives of patients. Each one is of a kind, so it is very crucial to spot the major differences. This can make healthcare decisions better and way faster, save time and improve clinical efficiency for no extra and hidden charges. So what are you sitting tight for? Time to leverage EHR and EMR for your future endeavors.
I hope you did find the following post worth your time. If so, do share among fellow healthcare practitioners and encourage them to take a step further and come up with fruitful outcomes for yourself as well as your valued patients.