What is the difference between EMR and EHR?

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May 3, 2014
EMR and EHR are two terms that are used quite interchangeably these days. Several definitions exist for both and there
have been heated discussions on forums about this.
So is there really a difference between the both that is worth knowing? Yes and here is the difference:
What is an EMR?
 Electronic Medical Record is a digital repository of patient charts replacing paper charts.
 EMRs contain the medical and treatment history of a patient in one practice.
 This information is used to schedule patient appointments, monitor vital parameters and improve the quality of
care within the practice.
 Information contained in an EMR usually doesn’t go out of the practice.
What is an EHR?
 Electronic Health Record has the same information that is there in an EMR and much more.
 The patient information in an EHR is more detailed and is a record of a patient’s long-term and aggregate health
information.
 An EHR contains patient demographics, progress notes, lab orders and results, allergies etc.
 Most importantly, EHRs can share patient information across hospitals, insurance companies, labs and other
practices.
 The information travels with the patient wherever she goes.
So, the key difference is?
 EHR contains more patient information and has broader scope than EMR.
 EMR is usually limited to one practice and the information doesn’t travel out easily. EHR allows patient
information to be shared care facilities.
What is the difference
between EMR and EHR?

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