Glossary
Electronic Health Records (EHR)
What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?
An EHR is a digital version of a patient’s medical history that is maintained by a healthcare provider over time. It includes administrative and clinical data relevant to a patient’s care, such as demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports.
What are the benefits of using EHRs?
Benefits include improved quality of care, more efficient care, more convenient care, and better communication between providers. EHRs can help reduce medical errors, avoid duplicate tests, and enable patients to be more informed about their health.
How do EHRs improve patient care?
EHRs can improve patient care by reducing medical errors, making health information more readily available, reducing delays in treatment, and enabling patients to make better-informed decisions about their health.
How are EHRs regulated?
EHRs are subject to various regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States, which sets standards for the protection of electronic health information. Providers must ensure that their EHR systems comply with these regulations to protect patient privacy and security.
