An electronic medical record (EMR) is a computer-based patient record specific to a single clinical practice, such as a family health team or group practice.
In clinical settings where there are a number of doctors, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health care professionals, EMRs can improve communication between them and support productivity. EMRs can also improve communication between health care providers and patients, positively impacting health outcomes and patient safety.
Video: Dr. Alex Summers’s Story: Making Informed Decisions
Benefits of EMRs
- EMR use results in health system level benefits, such as reduced numbers of duplicate tests and adverse drug events
- Community-based practices experience efficiencies in workflow as staff time is redeployed
- Advance use of EMRs can improve health outcomes and patient safety through preventative care and chronic disease management
- EMR use supports improved interactions and communications among care team members and between providers and patients