Introduction to EMR and EHR Systems
The terms EMR and EHR are often used interchangeably. However, there are some important differences. What they have in common is that they are software systems that keep patient data in an electronic form so that paper records are not necessary.
EMR
Electronic Medical Record: An EMR is a digital version of a patient’s medical record. EMR systems allow individual practices to create, store and use these records for patient care.
EHR
Electronic Health Record: An EHR is a digital record of the patient’s total health and goes beyond medical problems. An EHR can also be shared across healthcare providers such as clinics, hospitals and laboratories.
EMR and EHR: Understanding the Basics
An EMR is a digital record in one healthcare setting like a clinic. It includes patient details such as demographic information, medical history, diagnoses, medication, allergies, lab results and vaccinations.
As you can see from the definition, and EHR has the same features as an EMR but expands on that.
The Key Differences
The main difference between electronic health record and electronic medical record is scope. EHRs are more holistic in nature and include all aspects of a patient’s care. EMRs are limited more to the medical aspects and do not travel outside one practice. EHR systems in healthcare are therefore more comprehensive.
Software Solutions in Healthcare
Defining electronic health record software is about integration. It must manage various health data types. EMR software focuses on digital records for clinical use. Comparing EHR vs EMR software, think big picture vs. detail focus.
Where does EMRpro fit into the definitions?
EMRpro is a fully-featured EMR. However, it shares a number of capabilities of an EHR.
For example, the appointment system can be used to book appointments across many locations. EMRpro can send prescriptions to nominated pharmacies or to the patients themselves. The LabLink feature can be used to send requests to laboratories and receive results back into the system. Therefore, it is capable of working across more than one healthcare facility, a feature of an EHR.
The future development of EMRpro depends on the changing demands of its users. The direction of travel is to integrate it with NHS systems make it an EHR in its own right.
