What is the difference between EHR and EMR software?
The terms EHR (electronic health record) and EMR (electronic medical record) are often used interchangeably but the truth is that these two systems have different purposes. The EMR is the patient record created in hospitals and clinics and it contains the data used by the EHR. On the other hand, an EHR provides the system that enables different health care settings to access patient data maintained by different institutions. An EMR is used locally while an EHR software enables institutions to share patient record thereby allowing physicians to make medical decisions more effectively. Moreover, an EHR can be accessed by researchers and use data they gather in creating new technology for medical purposes.
With an ehr software, offices no longer have to worry about paper records since everything can be compiled online. Nationally, estimates show that Medicare can save as much as $23 billion annually while private institutions can save around $31 billion in their operational costs. Aside from the savings, reporting to national agencies has also become easier with an EHR. Now, any organization who wishes to see how a health care institution performs can pull the records in just a few minutes.
Aside from the reduction of costs, ehr software will also improve the provision of health care service. Now patients no longer have to fill up a form before they can receive medical service. With an HER, all they need to do is to present their ID and the medical institution can get their patient information