What is EHR (Electronic Health Record)?

EHR (Electronic Health Record)Definition

The EHR is the "Longitudinal Movie" of a patient's health. For Health System Executives, the EHR (like Epic or Cerner) is the "Operating System" of the hospital. Unlike an EMR, which is a localized chart, an EHR is built for transferability. It contains data from every provider the patient has ever seen—specialists, labs, and imaging centers. Operationally, the EHR is where providers enter their credentialing data and practice details, which should ideally flow into the payer’s network. Strategically, EHR integration is the key to Population Health, allowing plans to analyze data across thousands of patients to improve outcomes.

FAQs

What is the main difference between EHR and EMR?

An EMR is a digital version of a paper chart for one practice; an EHR is a shared, comprehensive record that follows the patient across all practices.

Can patients see their own EHR?

Yes. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, patients have a legal right to access their EHR data via "Patient Portals" or 3rd party apps.

Do EHRs help with provider credentialing?

Indirectly. Modern EHRs store the "Provider Master" data that serves as the primary source for the rosters sent to health plans.