What is an Electronic Health Record? (EHR)?
An electronic health record is defined by the National Alliance for Health Information Technology as an electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization. In layman’s terms EHRs are computerized versions of patients’ clinical, demographic and administrative data. The records may include treatment histories, medical test reports and images stored in an electronic format. Although they sometimes are also referred to as electronic medical records (EMR), EHR is now the preferred term because its definition includes the ability to exchange information interoperably while EMR does not necessarily have that ability.
Related Questions
- Can I receive the maximum allowable electronic health record (EHR) incentive payments if they total more than the purchase cost of my EHR system?
- What is meaningful use, and how does it apply to the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs?
- What is Certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology?
