What is EHR?

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a longitudinal electronic record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting. Included in this information are patient demographics, progress notes, problems, medications, vital signs, past medical history, immunizations, laboratory data and radiology reports. The EHR automates and streamlines the clinician's workflow. The EHR has the ability to generate a complete record of a clinical patient encounter, as well as supporting other care-related activities directly or indirectly via interface - including evidence-based decision support, quality management, and outcomes reporting. Other areas that fall within the EHR also include Auto ID and Bar Coding, e-Prescribing, Patient Safety and Quality/Outcomes, and Clinical Decision Support.

(More: http://www.himss.org/content/mindmaps/EHR/index.htm )