Electronic health records (EHR) systems have become an important part of the medical landscape in recent years. They allow healthcare providers to store and manage patient data in a secure, electronic format. This can make it easier for doctors and nurses to provide quality care for their patients. In this post, we will take a closer look at how EHR systems work so that you can better understand how they can benefit your healthcare practice.
What is an EHR System?
An EHR system is a digital version of a patient’s medical chart. It includes all of the same information that would be found in a paper chart, such as demographics, medical history, medications, lab results, and immunizations. EHR systems can also store other types of information, such as images and radiology reports. They are designed to be a complete record of a patient’s care, from birth to death.
EHR systems are different from electronic medical records (EMR) systems. EMR systems are a subset of EHR systems, and they only contain the medical and clinical data for a patient’s care. An EMR integration helps you to keep track of this data and enables you to share it with other providers. Overall, an EHR system is a more comprehensive record of a patient’s care.
How Does an EHR System Work?
EHR systems are typically web-based, which means they can be accessed from any computer with an internet connection. They are also designed to be user-friendly so that healthcare providers can easily document patient encounters and pull up information when it is needed. When a patient is seen by a provider, the provider will document the encounter in the EHR system. This documentation will include things like the patient’s chief complaint, vital signs, and assessment. The provider will also document the care that was provided and any follow-up that is needed.
EHR systems also give providers the ability to share information with other members of the care team. This can be done through secure messaging or by giving other providers access to the EHR system. This sharing of information is one of the benefits of an EHR built for innovation, as it can help to ensure that everyone involved in a patient’s care is on the same page. Plus, it can help to avoid duplication of tests and procedures, which can save time and money.
Wrapping Up
We hope this post has helped you to understand how EHR systems work. As you can see, they offer a number of advantages for both healthcare providers and patients. If you are thinking about implementing an EHR system in your practice, be sure to do your research and choose a system that will meet the specific needs of your practice.