Healthcare Data GlossaryTech
EHR: Definition and Healthcare Context
Full name: Electronic Health Record
An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient's medical chart that is real-time, patient-centered, and accessible to authorized users across health care settings. EHRs contain medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization records, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory results. Under the HITECH Act and ONC's Health IT Certification program, EHR adoption expanded substantially after 2009. EHRs differ from Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) in that EHRs are designed for cross-organizational information sharing.
Last updated: 2026-05-31Reviewed by: Dr. Jennifer Montecillo, MD — Gullas College of Medicine, 2019. Non-practicing medical reviewer.
How it’s used
- CMS QPP MIPS: the Promoting Interoperability category of MIPS rewards clinicians for using certified EHR technology and sharing data through standardized interfaces such as FHIR APIs.
Frequently asked questions
- What is an EHR?
- An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital version of a patient's paper medical chart, accessible across authorized health care providers and settings.
- What is the difference between an EHR and an EMR?
- An EMR (Electronic Medical Record) is typically limited to a single practice. An EHR is designed to share information across different health care organizations.
- Are health care providers required to use EHRs?
- While not universally mandated, the HITECH Act created financial incentives for adoption, and MIPS includes an EHR interoperability component tied to Medicare payment.