Which statement best describes the relationship between the electronic medical record (EMR) and the medical record?

Which statement best describes the relationship between the electronic medical record (EMR) and the medical record?

• A. An EMR is a digital version used within one clinical setting; a medical record is the overall data collected during treatment.
• B. An EMR is the umbrella term used across facilities; a medical record is a single patient file.
• C. A medical record is digital; an EMR is paper-based.
• D. They are interchangeable terms.

Answer: (A)

At heart this question is about scope and portability of the records. An electronic medical record is the digital version of a patient’s chart kept within a single clinical setting, such as one doctor’s or one clinic’s practice. It holds the notes, orders, medications, lab results, and other details for patients seen there. It isn’t intended to span multiple facilities. The medical record, by contrast, is the complete, longitudinal collection of a patient’s health care data across time and across settings. It can be paper or electronic and includes all encounters, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes from various providers and locations. So the statement that best describes their relationship is that the EMR is a digital version used within one setting, while the medical record represents the overall data collected during treatment.

At heart this question is about scope and portability of the records. An electronic medical record is the digital version of a patient’s chart kept within a single clinical setting, such as one doctor’s or one clinic’s practice. It holds the notes, orders, medications, lab results, and other details for patients seen there. It isn’t intended to span multiple facilities. The medical record, by contrast, is the complete, longitudinal collection of a patient’s health care data across time and across settings. It can be paper or electronic and includes all encounters, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes from various providers and locations. So the statement that best describes their relationship is that the EMR is a digital version used within one setting, while the medical record represents the overall data collected during treatment.