EHR Vs EMR: The Distinctions Between Two Related Terms

Electronic health record (EHR) and electronic medical record (EMR) are two terms that are used extensively in clinic operations. These two forms of digital records are now the standard in clinical practices, managing patient healthcare data in a way that improves efficiency and the standard of a patient's care.

While EHRs and EMRs both have a clear place in the healthcare arena, it’s important to understand the different purposes they serve and, in turn, the value they provide.

What Is an EMR?

An electronic medical record (EMR) is essentially a digital version of a patient’s medical chart. It includes information about a patient’s demographics, as well as details about their diagnoses, lab test results, medications, allergies, immunizations, and more.

The question of who uses an EMR is where you start to see the dichotomy between EMR and EHR.

An EMR is designed for use within a single clinic or facility. Providers at that one clinic or facility use EMRs to conveniently access a patient’s medical information, which gives them the bandwidth to see more patients, as well as insights to support faster care decisions and better outcomes. 

While the benefits of EMRs are clear from an individual clinic perspective, their aim is to stay within a single practice. The potential for leveraging this information to collaborate with others is achieved through EHRs.

What Is an EHR?

An electronic health record (EHR) is a digital record that provides a complete overview of a patient’s health. It includes information covered in an EMR, but it also contains data through the lens of a patient’s visits to multiple healthcare practices. 

The end result is a broader, more accurate view of a patient’s journey at every point of their care.

As this view of the patient journey suggests, EHRs support the sharing of healthcare insights. Whereas patient data in an EMR is confined to individual clinics, the data in an EHR follows patients as they move between clinics. The ability to share patient health information between providers helps facilitate coordinated care that enables faster clinical decisions, minimizes adverse drug reactions, and supports positive patient outcomes.

In the words of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), “EHRs are the next step in the continued progress of healthcare that can strengthen the relationship between patients and clinicians.”

How EHRs Fit Into the Behavioral Health Environment

EHR adoption has been prevalent across the healthcare industry, with 78% of office-based physicians and 96% of non-federal acute care hospitals adopting a certified EHR as of 2021. In the case of behavioral health clinics, EHR growth has been slower.

In a survey of 43 behavioral health clinicians and health IT administrators, respondents cited that one of the facilitators of EHR adoption is finding an EHR system specifically designed for mental health clinics. Considering the unique nature of mental health workflows, the clinicians wanted to be sure EHR systems could account for these workflows and be an enabler versus a barrier in their clinic operations.

ClinicTracker is proud to check this box. Our fully-integrated EHR system is designed specifically for behavioral health facilities, with customizable workflows available to fit your clinic’s exact needs. From creating and modifying forms to building custom reports for any data, you can decide how our EHR software works for you — with the support of our team along the way to ensure you get the most return on your investment.

Interested in seeing ClinicTracker in action? Request a free demo today.