Technology has already gone very far in its area. It has included almost every industry in itself, whether it be the agriculture industry, education industry, defense industry, and as well as the medical industry. From curing the disease to maintaining the records, medical technology has eased the work of mankind.
“Medicine can cure you, but technology can track you. But, medical technology will reform the medication ways out of you to manage your health and please your life.”
In this Article
As it is said, one word can change the meaning of any sentence. However, here one word has changed the concept of the whole concept. Often, EMR and EHR get swapped with each other. Both the terms are somehow inter-related to each other but still certainly different from each other. The term EMR refers to “Electronic Medical Records” and the term EHR refers to “Electronic Health Records”.
What is EMR?
Electronic Medical Records or EMR is a medical technology term often used by software managers. EMR is a computerized version of a patient’s medical records. It generally contains all the information that a prescription holds. Medications, treatments, diagnosis, etc. other medical information of a patient can get tracked through EMR.
Entering the records manually on paper, and then uploading them on the portal can lead to various vulnerable concerns. This requires a lot of documentation and paperwork. Physicians could not waste their time on these things as they have to focus on the patient’s interaction. EMR eliminates these gaps and is easy to update and maintain.
Example: A patient was struggling with a disease. All of a sudden, his health starts deteriorating, and the doctor who was attending the patient is out of town. The patient was also not carrying his prescription file. Through the Electronic Medical Records system, the prescription documents of the patient’s health would get recovered from the hospital’s system, and another doctor would be able to check him up.
EMR has various forms that allow clinicians to track about the patient:
- Track the history of the patient’s health.
- Easily create and update the information of patients.
- It can ensure the patient’s next screenings and check-ups.
- Check other parameters like Blood pressure, sugar, etc. of the patient.
- Monitor the quality of treatment and care patients are getting through that particular medication.
Benefits of Electronic Medical Records System
There is an advantage of almost everything in the Digital World. As no technology invented without benefits, just like every other invention. So, let’s talk about the benefits of EMR:
- Data Tracking at times: As they are digital records, tracking data through them is more feasible.
- Reminders for patients: The data of patients recorded digitally, so it’s easy to put reminders to them about the next screenings and daily checkups.
- Improved Care: As a recording of daily medical reports is done, management can easily keep an eye on their services and improve accordingly.
- Security of Data: Data is much secure when it is digital. Both physical as well tech safety is present in recording records in EMR.
What is EHR?
Electronic Health Records or EHR is another medical technology, a term that is more powerful than any other medical record system. EHR is a digital version of a patient’s health records. It contains all the information about a patient’s health, which is necessary, like diagnosis reports, prescriptions, patient history, demographic data, and other medical information of the patient.
The basic idea behind Electronic Health Record software is medical information sharing with authorized personalities. Information through EHR can get shared between specialists, hospitals, nursing homes, cities, states, and even across countries. EHR’s data is accessible to all the stakeholders, including the patient himself.
Example: A patient is struggling from deathly disease and the nursing home has referred him to another hospital and that is in another city itself. In the time of hustle shifting, there are chances of misplacement of documents. But this problem can be tackled through the Electronic Health Record system as all of the documents of the patient like diagnosis records, prescription files, demographic reports, and other health-related information can be sent to another hospital.
EHR is one of the finest inventions in medical data technology. It has various forms that allow clinicians to track about the patient:
- Track the history of the patient’s health.
- Easily create and update information of patients.
- Lab data information
- Imaging results’ records
- Demographic data
- Integration with other provider’s system
Benefits of Electronic Health Record System
Advantages are always helpful in selecting the thing, and if it is for software, no choice can be easier than this. So, let’s talk about the benefits of EHR:
- Information Gathering: Since all the health records are on the system, one can easily collect the medical history of a patient, if in case he is unconscious.
- Record for patients: If a patient wants to check information about his health, he also has access to check the records. It will motivate him to improve his lifestyle and take a serious note on medications.
- No duplicacy and cost saver: Sometimes, lab tests are forgotten or results get misplaced so, patients or hospitals have to take these tests again. To avoid the situation, this information is recorded on EHR, and hence, there is no chance of duplicacy and saves money also.
- Follow-ups for patients: Generally, after discharge patients do forget the follow-ups of aftercare and discharge instructions. This data can get retrieved from the EHR portal so that smooth care and proper medications can be ensured.
Difference between EMR and EHR
| Electronic Medical Record System | Electronic Health Record System |
| Provides information of medication. | Provides information of overall health. |
| Real-time information can be shared and updated. | Information is shared only to the authorized officials. |
| Access to all providers who can make decisions about patient. | Access to only medical practitioners. |
| Limited to the only medical information provided. | All the health-related information including allergies and diagnosis reports are provided. |
| EMR can track a patient’s history and update the provided. | EHR can track a patient’s history along with the lab tests, diagnosis reports, demographic data and allows interoperability. |
EMR vs EHR: What to choose?
No two technologies are similar to each other. Every individual has to choose between two systems. So, if you have to choose between EMR and EHR, then a study between both the technologies is necessary. Their features and benefits have to get compared and, then the choice should be made accordingly. As there is a difference of just one word but that one world can make differences in many terms.
Adoption Rate in the Digital Market
- 84% of hospitals in the U.S. have adopted EHR systems in their hospitals.
- Till 2015, 96% of hospitals have possessed certificates for EHR.
- EHR adoption rate has generated nearly $ 3.5 trillion in 2015.
- EHR adoption has gained from 42% to 87% by the physicians.
- $ 30 billion is raised to financial services by EMR systems.
- More than 468000 medical services have adopted EMR systems until May 2015.
