Electronic records have transformed modern healthcare, but electronic health records (EHRs) systems and electronic medical records (EMRs) are not interchangeable. In this article, we will break down:

Understanding these differences will help healthcare providers, administrators, and IT decision-makers choose the right system for their medical practice.

Discover the key differences between EHRs and EMRs and how they impact patient care.

EMRs are:

EHRs are:

While EMRs are limited to single-practice use, EHRs enhance interoperability, care coordination, and public health insights, leading to greater efficiency and improved patient outcomes.

Selecting between electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) requires evaluating features, costs, and long-term value.

While cost is an important consideration, it should not be the sole factor in your decision.

For healthcare practices transitioning from paper-based records, EMRs offer significant advantages in efficiency, documentation, and patient management.

Unlike EMRs, which are limited to a single practice, EHRs take a holistic approach to patient care by enabling seamless data exchange across healthcare providers. The key advantage of an EHR is that it provides real-time, comprehensive access to a patient’s medical history and chart, improving both care coordination and patient engagement.

EHRs allow practitioners to do everything they can do with EMRs, plus:

According to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) guide to EHR privacy and security, “All types of EHRs outperform paper medical records when it comes to providing better access to and use of electronic personal health information (ePHI).”

For healthcare providers still relying on outdated systems or manual processes, EHRs improve efficiency, reduce errors, and enhance patient care.

Despite ongoing efforts to improve data sharing across healthcare platforms, EHR interoperability is not yet universal. Many systems still face compatibility challenges, limiting seamless patient record exchange between providers.

One of the most significant initiatives addressing this challenge is the development of Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) by Health Level Seven International (HL7).

FHIR helps standardize healthcare data exchange, allowing patients to maintain a single, comprehensive health record across multiple providers. This includes medications, allergies, diagnoses, and treatment history, improving care coordination.

In 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reinforced interoperability through its Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule, derived from the 21st Century Cures Act.

This standard is now widely used in mobile health apps, cloud services, EHR data sharing, and healthcare communications.

The 4 key goals of EHR interoperability include:

Both Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) must adhere to the same compliance standards for managing, storing, and sharing electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). The method of deployment — whether an EMR is hosted on a private server or an EHR is cloud-based — does not change regulatory obligations.

Ultimately, the responsibility for compliance falls on the healthcare provider, requiring measures such as stress-testing servers, conducting security audits, and maintaining regular vendor meetings for updates.

Hospitals rely on digital health record systems to manage patient care, but not all hospitals use the same type of system. The choice between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and an Electronic Health Record (EHR) depends on hospital size, structure, and the need for data sharing.

Since Medicaid and Medicare incentives play a significant role in hospital budgeting, most hospitals opt for certified systems that meet regulatory requirements.

The decision between EMRs and EHRs ultimately depends on your practice's size, specialty, and need for interoperability.

Choosing the right system can improve workflow efficiency, patient care, and financial performance.

Q: What is the difference between EHR and EMR?

A: Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are digital patient records used within a single healthcare practice, replacing paper charts for efficient documentation and clinical workflows. Electronic health records (EHRs) expand beyond EMRs by enabling real-time data exchange across multiple providers, improving care coordination and public health tracking.

Q: Is Epic an EMR or EHR?

A: Epic is considered an EHR, and is one of the most popular systems used by hospitals and large health organizations. Epic’s EHR system is cloud-based, offering comprehensive functionality, including patient records management, scheduling, billing, clinical workflows, and interoperability features that allow it to exchange patient information across different healthcare providers.

Q: What is an EMR example?

A: Tebra is an all-in-one, cloud-based EMR that provides significant flexibility and is ideal for independent practices. This top EMR system connects care, billing, and scheduling — and features built-in AI to speed up notes, handle reviews, and automate repetitive admin work.