What’s the Difference Between Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Electronic Medical Records (EMR)?

While Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) both digitize patient information, they serve different purposes in healthcare.

• Electronic Medical Records (EMRs): Digital versions of a patient’s records kept within a single provider’s office or healthcare system. They track medical history, diagnoses, and treatments but are not easily shared across different facilities.
• Electronic Health Records (EHRs): A more comprehensive system that allows multiple providers to access and share patient data, ensuring better coordination between hospitals, specialists, and primary care doctors.

Why does the difference matter?

• EMRs are limited to one provider, making it harder to coordinate care across multiple doctors.
• EHRs improve continuity of care by giving all authorized providers access to up-to-date medical history, test results, and treatment plans.
• Patients benefit from EHRs because they reduce duplicate tests, improve medication safety, and help doctors make informed decisions faster.

How Solace can help

A Solace advocate can help patients request and consolidate their medical records, ensure providers have the correct information, and assist in resolving errors that could impact treatment. If records are spread across different healthcare systems, an advocate can work to streamline communication and bridge gaps in care.

What to do next

Need help accessing your medical records, organizing them for easy reference, or making sure all your providers have the same information? Find a Solace advocate today.