Throughout a lifetime, a person deals with a lot of health-related ups and downs. At the same time, some are cured at home by taking simple rest; in some instances, an individual may require mild to severe medical attention.
It is best to keep a record of one’s health in order to refer to it whenever needed.
Key Takeaways
- EHRs (Electronic Health Records) store comprehensive patient data that healthcare providers manage.
- PHRs (Personal Health Records) enable patients to manage their health information.
- EHRs are more widely used by providers, while PHRs focus on patient engagement and self-management.
EHR vs PHR
EHRs are digital versions of a patient’s medical chart used by healthcare providers to keep track of patient health information and share it with other healthcare providers. PHRs are electronic records of an individual’s health information maintained by the patient, allowing them to keep track of their own health.
Electronic Health Record or EHR is basically like an electronic book that keeps records of patients whenever they visit any clinic or doctor officially and goes through a diagnosis or a treatment.
Healthcare people create it, and it is also maintained by them only, which is slightly different in the case of PHR.
A Personal Health Record, or PHR, is regarded as a health record that a person creates. It includes all the medical details from medical history, allergies, severe ailments and regular checkup information.
The information from hospitals can be added with addition oh anything that a person wants to include.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | EHR | PHR |
|---|---|---|
| Full form | EHR is an abbreviation of Electronic Health Record. | PHR is an abbreviation of Personal Health Record. |
| Contents | It is an electronic health record of a patient. | It includes all health-related information of a person, including their medical history that is entered by them. |
| Information use | The information is used by healthcare units, doctors and clinics. | The information in a PHR is like a personal record of health information and can be used by the person for reference. |
| Access | EHR is accessible to more than one healthcare organisation. | PHR can only be accessed by the patient unless they choose to share it. |
| Data Source | The data in an EHR is collected and edited by multiple health care organisations. | The data is collected and managed by a patient a well as their doctors and clinics. |
What is EHR?
An EHR or Electronic Health Record is an essential document that almost everyone must have. It is like a digital book of records containing information about all the treatments, diagnoses, medication, checkups, and other essential procedures that took place at a registered healthcare unit.
An EHR is created by certified healthcare personnel to maintain the correctness and safe composition of the record. The information present in an Electronic Health Record is of great importance.
Doctors and even different medical organisations use it to check and update information regarding the patient’s health. The previous information about a patient’s health condition can be used productively to give them the best treatment.
As we already know, the Electronic Health Record is a digitally maintained record. It is, therefore, shared conveniently between multiple hospitals, doctors, clinics, etc., to analyse and use.
All the information entered in the EHR can only be edited by healthcare personnel. There is various EHR software that has different sections for different pieces of information like prescriptions, records, dates, etc.
The patients from their laptops can also access these.
What is PHR?
A PHR or Personal Health Record is a lot different from an Electronic Health Record. As the name suggests, a Personal Health Record is a record maintained personally by the patient.
It is vital for people to create a Personal Health Record in order to keep track of their health conditions in a more personal manner. When maintained on a personal level, the information that can be added to the PHR increases by many times more than an EHR.
People can keep a record of their regular checkups, medical history, allergies, as well as mild conditions, symptoms, and health disturbances for which they didn’t run to the hospital.
A Personal Health Record is created and maintained by a patient itself, and therefore there are also a lot of PHR applications available to ease this record keeping.
These apps provide a sorted section for each piece of information like allergies, vaccines, checkups, lab reports, etc. A patient can quickly enter the necessary details correctly and maintain a record.
A PHR can be accessed just by the patient unless they decide to share it with anyone, like a doctor, clinic, or anything else. A personal health Record is always helpful to refer to in case of emergencies too.
Main Differences Between EHR and PHR
- EHR is an abbreviation of Electronic Health Record, while PHR refers to Personal Health Record.
- An EHR is created and maintained by medical officials, whereas a PHR is created and maintained by the patient itself.
- Electronic Health Record contains information about every time a person goes for medical assistance, whereas a Personal Health Record can also have a record of medical history.
- An Electronic Health Record is shared among multiple healthcare organisations, whereas the Personal Health Record is just accessible to the patient.
- Medical officials can only update and edit an EHR, while the patient can edit a PHR.
- https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11606-011-1859-6.pdf
- https://www.jmir.org/2012/6/e150
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Sandeep Bhandari holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computers from Thapar University (2006). He has 20 years of experience in the technology field. He has a keen interest in various technical fields, including database systems, computer networks, and programming. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The benefits of maintaining an EHR are evident, especially in enhancing collaboration and information sharing among healthcare professionals. PHRs reflect a patient’s active involvement in their own care and health monitoring.
EHRs streamline the retrieval and management of patient data for healthcare providers, ensuring continuity of care. Whereas, PHRs empower patients to actively engage in their own health management.
The use of EHRs and PHRs also plays an important role in promoting patient-centric care and personalized health management. It enhances the patient experience and promotes better health outcomes.
The distinction between EHRs and PHRs in terms of data source and access is noteworthy. It reflects the contrast between institutional and patient-driven health record management systems.
The differentiation between EHR and PHR is well-explained, shedding light on the distinct roles and functionalities of each health record system in contemporary healthcare contexts.
The comparison table provides a helpful overview of the differences between EHRs and PHRs, highlighting the significance of both systems.
An important aspect of maintaining the health record is the accessibility and usability of the data. Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are integral in keeping track of patient information, while Personal Health Records (PHRs) empower individuals to manage their health data.
Quite right! Maintaining these records is crucial, considering the benefits EHRs and PCHR bring.
The references cited provide valuable insights into the significance of EHRs and PHRs in shaping future healthcare practices and patient-centered care models.