Reasons for the switch from EMRs to EHRs

Over the years, Electronic medical records (EMRs)  might have served your practice very well. However, all good things come to an end and it’s now time to move to a more comprehensive, interoperable solution; Electronic Health Records (EHRs). 

The reasons for this ‘switch’ can be classified into three sub-types:

•  You must move with technology to survive and grow in this extremely competitive industry.
•  Interoperability
•  Government incentives and penalties

The first point pertains to the survival of the fittest. A chef will fare a lot better with a running supply of gas in contrast to maintaining a fire that has been started by rubbing two stones. Moreover, the knobs on a gas-stove will allow him to set the heat he requires to create a perfect steak in lesser time.

Similarly, EMRs allowed the recording of clinical and medical data, facilitating the automation of charts and to enhance patient care. However, EHRs provide a more comprehensive patient history. Clinical support and decisions making is made a lot easier for the physicians in charge of administering care.

Patient care is advanced beyond a level which was once thought possible, and there is further room for growth. Interaction with patients is also enhanced via Patient Portals which allow doctors and patients to send and receive information including lab results, etc.

The second point, interoperability is generally viewed as the most significant difference between the two systems. In contrast to EMRs, EHRs are made in such a way that the information stored on the system is not constrained to the premises of a hospital; it can be electronically sent across locations including other hospitals, labs, radiology centers, payers, patients and other stakeholders.

And lastly, government regulations and requirements, most significantly the Stimulus Act have put huge pressure on healthcare providers to incorporate Information Technology (IT) into their everyday workflows. There are attractive incentives for those who start to “meaningfully use” certified EHR technology. Moreover, there are penalties for those who fail to do so.  

EHRs and EMRs both enhance the clinical aspects of a practice; however, the aforementioned reasons including interoperability put EHRs way ahead in terms of features and advantages.

Read more: EHR Breakups: A heartbreak for Practices