what are emr systems

EMR stands for Electronic Medical Record, which is a digital version of a patients healthcare chart. EMR systems are software programs that allow healthcare practices to create, store, and receive these charts. EMRs can house valuable information about a patient, including diagnoses, allergies, medical histories, immunization dates, lab results, medications, and physicians notes. EMRs can be continuously updated within certain legal limitations. EMRs have advantages over paper records, such as tracking data over time, easily identifying which patients are due for preventive screenings or checkups, and monitoring and improving overall quality of care within the practice. However, the information in EMRs doesnt travel easily out of the practice, and the patients record might even have to be printed out and delivered by mail to specialists and other members of the care team. EMRs can be used anonymously for statistical reporting in matters such as quality improvement, resource management, and public health communicable disease surveillance.