Frequently Asked Questions
What is an electronic health record (EHR)?
- An electronic health record (EHR) is a secure, real-time medical record stored on a computer or a network. EHRs are computerized versions of patients’ clinical, demographic and administrative data that can be created, managed and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization.
What is health information exchange (HIE)?
- Health information exchange is the framework that allows hospitals, doctors’ offices, labs, and others to share your electronic health record. Electronic health records connected through statewide health information exchange would allow a patient seeing a doctor in one part of the state to share or retrieve health information from a health care provider (e.g. hospital, lab, or surgeon) in another part of the state – instantly and accurately, to ensure timely and informed delivery of care.
What is e-prescribing?
- Electronic prescribing is when a doctor or other health care provider sends a prescription electronically to a pharmacy. Both the dispensing pharmacy and the authorizing provider need to have appropriate equipment for e-Prescribing to occur. In many places e-Prescribing is the first form of electronic health records being adopted.
How will the privacy of my health information be protected?
- The 1996 federal Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act, commonly referred to as HIPAA, establishes national standards to protect individuals’ medical records and other personal health information. HIPAA also requires appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of personal health information, and sets limits and conditions on the uses and disclosures that may be made of such information without patient authorization. The act gives patients rights over their health information, including rights to examine and obtain a copy of their health records, and to request corrections.
How will an electronic health record (EHR) improve my safety as a patient?
- An electronic health record allows a treating physician to make more informed decisions based on medical history information and clinical best practices information.