EHR vs. PHR: What’s the Difference?

Introduction

In the evolving landscape of healthcare technology, two terms often come up: Electronic Health Records (EHR) and Personal Health Records (PHR). While they both play crucial roles in modern healthcare, they serve different purposes and are designed for different users. Understanding the differences between EHR and PHR is essential for healthcare professionals, patients, and technology providers.

Key Takeaways

What is an Electronic Health Record (EHR)?

An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital record of a patient’s medical history, maintained by the healthcare provider over time. It includes all the key administrative clinical data relevant to that person’s care under a particular provider, including demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data, and radiology reports.

Benefits of EHR

What is a Personal Health Record (PHR)?

A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic application through which individuals can maintain and manage their health information (and that of others for whom they are authorized) in a private, secure, and confidential environment. PHRs are distinct from EHRs, which are the legal record of what happened during healthcare delivery.

Benefits of PHR

EHR vs. PHR: Understanding the Differences

Ownership and Control:

Purpose and Usage:

Accessibility:

Interoperability:

Conclusion

EHRs and PHRs are both vital in modern healthcare management, offering digital solutions for keeping track of health information. EHRs focus on the clinical aspect and are maintained by healthcare providers, while PHRs are controlled by the patients, giving them a powerful tool to manage their personal health data. Understanding these differences is key to leveraging their benefits effectively.

If you are looking for help implementing an EHR, Flatirons provides custom healthcare software services.

FAQs

Can information from an EHR be transferred to a PHR?

Is the data in PHRs secure?

Who can benefit from using a PHR?

Do all healthcare providers use EHRs?

How can PHRs improve healthcare outcomes?