Concept of Electronic Health Records PDF
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This document provides an overview of electronic health records (EHR). It explains what EHRs are, how they work, and compares them to electronic medical records (EMRs). Types of EHRs and their benefits are described. The information is relevant for healthcare professionals and students.
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***[Concept of Electronic Health Records]*** The EHR is the source of individual-focused healthcare data that makes it possible for practitioners and clients to interact in person and across distances in ways that expand the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of healthcare. Today, the medical wo...
***[Concept of Electronic Health Records]*** The EHR is the source of individual-focused healthcare data that makes it possible for practitioners and clients to interact in person and across distances in ways that expand the quality, quantity, and effectiveness of healthcare. Today, the medical world has migrated from paper-based records to digital methods of storing information in the form of [electronic health records (EHR)](https://www.selecthub.com/category/medical-software/ehr/?amp=1). EHRs allow doctors and nurses to consolidate patients' medical histories in a digital file to easily navigate patient data. There are various types of EHR systems in the medical world today. While introducing the technology has been costly, different types of EHR platforms have revolutionized patient data storage. Leveraging EHRs, healthcare organizations of all sizes are improving their caregiving techniques and reducing unnecessary costs. What Is EHR? ------------ Electronic health records are an integral part of the healthcare industry. Gone are the days when doctors and nurses used papers and pens to note individual patients' vitals. The digital revolution played a major role in spreading awareness of EHRs and their benefits to hospitals worldwide. Today, there are multiple types of EHR software dedicated to optimizing the process of medical data storage and sharing. Different types of EHR systems enable doctors to track essential data in times of emergencies, access checkup details of individual patients and monitor patients' vitals, such as blood pressure and sugar levels, over time. It enhances workflows and accessibility as EHRs store medical records in a single computer system. This technology is a holy grail for organizations to ramp up their facilities' productivity and efficiency not just clinically but economically as well. EHR is defined as any information relating to the past, present, or future physical/mental health condition of an individual which resides in electronic system(s) used to capture, transmit, receive, store, retrieve, link, and manipulate multimedia data for the primary purpose of providing healthcare and health related services. How Does EMR Differ From EHR? ----------------------------- Hospitals and clinics often use [EMRs](https://www.selecthub.com/emr-software/?amp=1) and EHRs to streamline clinical processes and keep doctors and nurses connected and updated with critical patient information. Although hospitals use both applications to store health information, maintain patient records and simplify several administrative workflows, these solutions have quite a [significant number of differences](https://www.selecthub.com/medical-software/the-difference-between-ehr-vs-emr/?amp=1). While an EMR is a digitized version of paper charts that offers a comprehensive view of a patient's medical history, EHRs collect and compile their holistic health journeys, including digital records and health information across treatments and providers. With EMRs, patients can only view their data, whereas EHRs offer them role-based access control, allowing them to make changes to records. To summarize, an EMR is used extensively by hospitals and clinics for internal record keeping. Though used widely, EMRs do have some limitations. For instance, only specific physicians can access the data stored in an EMR. Patients cannot move EMRs if they decide to switch hospitals or physicians. On the other hand, EHRs go beyond standard clinical data collection to [promote interoperability](https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/Basics) and share information with other health care providers, such as laboratories and specialists, to provide a complete overview of a patient's health. **Benefits of an EHR** The [benefits of EHRs](https://www.selecthub.com/medical-software/benefits-of-ehr-systems/?amp=1) are manifold in the health care industry. Today, EHRs are used widely to standardize documentation, prevent errors and create error-free charts. Here are some of the benefits you can expect from implementing and adopting an EHR platform: - - - - - **[Types of EHRs ]** ### 1.Cloud-based EHR Software: A cloud-based EHR allows you to store and access patients' data online via the web. By opting for cloud-based EHR platforms, clinics can save overhead costs as third-party vendors handle the external servers --- its security and any software updates. ### 2.**Physician-hosted Systems:** This type of application stores patient data on physicians' or organizations' servers. The traditional model of EHR programs, physician-hosted solutions, can be costly, as organizations must churn out capital for purchasing hardware and software. In addition, a clinic has to physically install the product onto a computer or server at the location. ### 3.Remotely-Hosted Systems: This application stores patient data on the vendor's servers instead of the physician's server. This considerably cuts down the cost of handling hardware and software and is a more advanced technology than the traditional EHR product. ASPs usually help medium-sized businesses that have limited capital and want to avoid straight-up program purchase costs. **Challenges of EHR** No software is devoid of any downsides. Different types of Electronic Health Record systems have some challenges and limitations. Let's take a look at where these programs fall behind in the medical industry: - - - - - References : [Types of Electronic Health Record (EHR) Systems in 2023 (selecthub.com)](https://www.selecthub.com/medical-software/ehr/types-of-ehr/?amp=1) **\ **