What Is an Electronic Medical Record?

Modern technology has reduced the need for handwritten medical charts that track your health. These were once a vital part of the medical profession. Today’s healthcare providers enter your medical information into a computer. This creates an electronic medical record (EMR). Instead of reviewing a paper chart that may be many pages long and hard to read, your healthcare providers can now get to your entire medical history on computers. A good EMR makes it far easier to keep track of your important information. This includes your medicines, vital signs, like blood pressure, and test results.

An EMR organizes your complete medical history, including:

• Immunizations or vaccines

• Lab, X-ray, and scan results

• Allergies

• Medicines

• Vital signs and weight

• Medical problems

• Notes from your healthcare provider

More and more healthcare providers are moving to EMRs.

The advantages of EMRs

EMRs are convenient for you and your healthcare provider. It has been suggested that EMRs provide improved patient care and safety and better communication between patients and healthcare providers and between healthcare providers. Some additional benefits are: 

• Less confusion and fewer errors related to misreading handwriting

• Reduced medical errors

• Reduced risk of medicine interactions or reactions

• Fewer repeated tests

• Less risk of losing information

• Sent when you are due for a checkup, treatment, test, or procedure. Fewer missed appointments with use of reminder systems. 

• Better information regarding your insurance coverage for treatments, visits, or procedures

• Easier completion of office forms

• Better management of long-term diseases like diabetes or asthma

When your healthcare provider can easily get to all your health information and knows it’s correct, they may be able to make a more exact diagnosis and better decisions about your care.

EMRs also allow you to have more information and make smarter decisions about your health. Your healthcare provider may be able to share your medical information with you electronically.

About electronic health records

The terms EMR and electronic health record (EHR) are sometimes substituted for each other. But, if you ask some experts, they think differently. EMRs usually refer to the records kept at one particular healthcare provider's office. EHRs take your EMR one step further. An EHR puts together all of your medical information. This includes different healthcare providers' offices, hospitals, pharmacies, and other healthcare facilities. This allows all of your healthcare providers to share information electronically, without putting your privacy at risk. EHRs may include EMRs from all of your different healthcare providers. This works if they are all on systems that are set up to share information with each other. Each healthcare provider can see, among other information, the medicines you’re on and your latest lab results. This can help you prevent harmful interactions and unnecessary testing. EHRs give a total picture of your health.

Technology has led to major advancements in medicine that have improved treatments.  It has also helped people enjoy healthier lives. Electronic medical and health records are two more tools your healthcare providers use to give you the best care possible.