Introduction

Nowadays a lot of emphasis is being put on doctors to learn and utilize EMR in their patient management (as if they did not already have to earn enough through their medical studies), what are the benefits that this industry tends to achieve?

Amongst all these talks about digitalization in the healthcare sector, what we need to first understand are the basics of digitalization in the healthcare industry. Believe me, when I say a lot of us don’t know what is meant by an electronic medical record, set aside why it is the basics of medical industry nowadays. While people use the words like EMR, EHR, HIS, PHR; what do they mean and more importantly, how these terms differ from each other.

Below I have tried to explain the basic difference of the three terminologies and how they are utilized in the industry.

EMR (Electronic Medical Records)

EMR systems are digital versions of paper-based medical records used within a single healthcare provider or facility. They primarily focus on capturing and storing patient-specific clinical information, such as medical history, diagnoses, treatments, and medications. EMRs are typically used by healthcare providers within a specific facility to document patient encounters and support clinical decision-making.

EHR (Electronic Health Records)

EHRs are broader in scope compared to EMRs. They encompass comprehensive health records that go beyond a single healthcare provider or facility. EHRs aim to provide a holistic view of a patient's health by integrating data from various sources, including multiple healthcare settings and providers. They include clinical information as well as non-clinical data and can support features like decision support, patient engagement, and population health management. It can encompass a wide range of data such as medical history, diagnoses, medications, allergies, laboratory results, imaging reports, immunization records, vital signs, procedures, care plans, etc. It may also include information from different healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, laboratories, pharmacies, and specialists, allowing authorized healthcare professionals to access and contribute to the patient's record.

The goal of a comprehensive health record is to provide a longitudinal and integrated view of a patient's health, enabling healthcare providers to make more informed decisions, coordinate care across different providers and settings, and improve patient safety and outcomes.

HIS (Hospital Information Systems)

HIS refers to information systems specifically designed to manage the operations and information within a hospital or healthcare institution. HIS includes a range of functionalities beyond clinical data. It covers various aspects of hospital operations, such as admissions, scheduling, billing, inventory management, and reporting. HIS integrates information from different departments and systems within the hospital, facilitating efficient management of resources and workflows.

In simple terms, EMR focuses on individual patient records within a specific healthcare provider, EHR provides a comprehensive view of a patient's health across different healthcare settings, and HIS manages the overall operations of a hospital or healthcare institution.

PHR (Personal Health Record)

PHR is a digital tool that allows individuals to securely store, manage, and access their personal health information. It is like a digital diary of your health.

In a PHR, one can keep track of various aspects of their health, such as medical conditions, allergies, medications, immunizations, and lab results. One can also record details of your healthcare visits, including dates, diagnoses, and treatments received. PHRs are typically accessed through online platforms or mobile apps, giving you the convenience of accessing your health information anytime, anywhere. You have control over who can access your PHR and what information you choose to share with healthcare providers or family members.

Conceptual Diagram

Below is the representation of these terminologies: