Electronic medical records (EMR / EHR) are the hot buzz-words these days as physicians are now heavily encouraged to switch from paper to electronic based systems. The two terms (EMR / EHR) are used interchangeably, however, there is size-able difference between the two terms.
The NAHIT has provided the following definitions for EMR and EHR:
EMR: The electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is created, gathered, managed, and consulted by licensed clinicians and staff from a single organization who are involved in the individual’s health and care.
EHR: The aggregate electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is created and gathered cumulatively across more than one health care organization and is managed and consulted by licensed clinicians and staff involved in the individual’s health and care.
By these definitions, an EHR is an EMR with interoperability (i.e. integration to other providers’ systems). In other words, EMR is at micro level (single provider) where as EHR is a wider macro level concept (multiple providers / medical setups). So, yes, the difference between “electronic medical records” and “electronic health records” is just one word. But in that word there is a world of difference.
EMR: The electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is created, gathered, managed, and consulted by licensed clinicians and staff from a single organization who are involved in the individual’s health and care.
EHR: The aggregate electronic record of health-related information on an individual that is created and gathered cumulatively across more than one health care organization and is managed and consulted by licensed clinicians and staff involved in the individual’s health and care.
By these definitions, an EHR is an EMR with interoperability (i.e. integration to other providers’ systems). In other words, EMR is at micro level (single provider) where as EHR is a wider macro level concept (multiple providers / medical setups). So, yes, the difference between “electronic medical records” and “electronic health records” is just one word. But in that word there is a world of difference.
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