You’re not the only one who finds it difficult to distinguish between an electronic medical record (EMR) and an electronic health record (EHR). The frequent discussion on EMR vs EHR are one of the principal factors of the misunderstanding around them. Despite similarities, EMRs and EHRs have different overall capacities for supporting a patient’s health. Even though the distinctions between the two appear trivial at first glance, they matter significantly in the healthcare industry.

What do EHR and EMR Stand for?

The first step in comprehending EMR vs EHR is knowing what each of them stands for;

• EHR stands for Electronic Health Records
• EMR stands for Electronic Medical Records

Although they are similar applications, they each have unique characteristics that you should know. A patient’s paper chart is converted into a digital one using an EMR. Contrarily, the term “Health” in an EHR refers to a patient’s general state of health. The former showcases the medical issues that a diagnosis and the results of lab tests disclose.

Characteristics of an EMR (Electronic Medical Record)

EMRs are electronic versions of paper charts, which are essential documents in any provider’s office. The word “Medical” was utilized in EMR during the early stages of the development of EMR since physicians’ primary concerns were medical diagnosis and treatment.  EMR medical records make it easier for doctors to monitor data over time and determine whether patients require follow-up visits, screenings, or other appointments. A rapid look at the patients’ basic vitals, such as blood pressure and weight, is possible by EMR.  Additionally, EMR gives a greater understanding of the practice’s status and performance in treating patients.

However, there are some drawbacks to adopting electronic medical records. For instance, you are not permitted to transfer data with another practice. Think about what might transpire if you were a family doctor recommending a patient to an endocrinologist or another expert. Since the EMR is only intended for internal use by one practice, your staff will need to print out the patient’s chart and mail it via secure fax. Few EMRs like the one offered by Transcure can customize your needs and help in transferring data.

Characteristics of an EHR (Electronic Health Record)

The information in an EHR is identical to that in an EMR, but it offers far more functionality. EHRs gather all medical data from hospitals, doctors, and patients themselves, as well as other healthcare providers. When individuals seek care from specialists, labs, or other healthcare institutions, their medical records follow them effortlessly via EHRs. Patients’ digital records are exchanged and updated to reflect new data or care information when they move across healthcare facilities. EHRs enable physicians to make better treatment decisions by providing the most up-to-date patient information.

The implementation of Meaningful Use, a Medicare/Medicaid program that requires EHRs to enhance patient outcomes and performance-based reimbursement, heavily relies on EHRs. MACRA, which continues the development of performance monitoring to impose fines or award bonuses to providers, follows a similar pattern. Due to the preference of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the word “EHR” has recently become more popular than “EMR”.

EMR Vs EHR -The Key Differences

Although the fact that EHRs are shared throughout organizations and EMRs are not is the main difference between these two record systems, there are other significant differences: 

• Interoperability: Interoperability is the capacity of an EHR to communicate with other systems. EHRs serve a variety of purposes, from prescription management and recording to clinical decision support, reporting, and outcomes management.
• Accessibility: Another important distinction between EHRs and EMRs is accessibility. Patients may access EHRs, which will soon be made available for digital download, Whereas EMRs are not accessible. Interoperability between EHRs is what leads to this accessibility, which in turn necessitates record standardization. This is where integration standards like Health Level 7 may help, as they convey data in a defined manner.

Why Should Modern Practices Switch to Electronic Records?

Electronic records are essential for every modern practice. Medicare and Medicaid offer financial incentives to your practice, but only if you use certified EHR software that enables you to share patient information with insurers and public health researchers online.

Better patient participation is also possible through electronic records, especially when you consider how much time they save in the clinical context. As a result, nurses and physicians may devote more time to providing care and less time to maintaining records. As you can see, when you have a greater grasp of the distinctions between these two types of medical software, the decision of EHR vs EMR is simpler to make. Connect with qualified EHR and EMR providers to assist you in learning more about these applications and how they will affect your organization.