Electronic Health Records
Electronic Health Records
Electronic Health Records (EHR), pronounced as /ɪˈlɛktrɒnɪk hɛlθ rɪˈkɔːdz/, are digital versions of patients' paper charts. They are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users.
Etymology
The term "Electronic Health Records" is derived from the words "electronic", which refers to something using, based on, or used in a system of operation that involves the control of electric current by various devices, and "health records", which are a systematic documentation of a patient's medical history and care.
Definition
An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient’s paper chart. EHRs are real-time, patient-centered records that make information available instantly and securely to authorized users. While an EHR does contain the medical and treatment histories of patients, an EHR system is built to go beyond standard clinical data collected in a provider’s office and can be inclusive of a broader view of a patient’s care.
Related Terms
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR): An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one healthcare organization.
- Health Information Exchange (HIE): The mobilization of health care information electronically across organizations within a region, community or hospital system.
- Personal Health Record (PHR): An electronic application through which individuals can maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment.
See Also
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