Defining terms
May 20th, 2008
NAHIT has released its definitions.
In summary:
An EMR is a record for the doctor.
An EHR is a record for the doctors. (with data ready to move)
A PHR is a record for the patient.
A HIE is the process of moving health data.
A HIO is a O that does HIE.
A RHIO is a HIO that is Regional.
Well now that that is settled, I am sure that the whole industry will stop using the terms EMR and EHR interchangeably. I am sure that no one will refer to a RHIO as an HIE.
Thank God for the government.
-FT
Nice snarky commentary, Fred, and right on the money. Except that NAHIT is a private organization. Hope you enjoyed your $7 beer tonight.
I probably should have mentioned that my sarcasm was reserved for Office of the National Coordinator of Health Information Technology who funded the study.
I rarely drink beer. Even more rarely expensive beer
-FT
I thought I would find objection to all that, but I don’t. It will take time for these definitions to take hold in the market, but what’s wrong with clarity?
God knows I wasted months before figuring out the difference between a PHR and an EMR. Missy Krasner of Google finally set me straight at HIMSS, and I thank God every day for people like her.
And you, too, Fred.
Thanks…
I hope in the end it does bring clarity. But as long as some profit from ambiguity, I am not sure it will ever be clear.