FAQ - Can you explain the difference between Electronic Patient Records (EPR) and Electronic Health Records (EHR)?
Answer
At the present moment current patient medical records are held in two main forms, either in a paper format or an electronic format. Both formats are used simultaneously, with patients, medical information being entered into each as the general rule. This is the case in both Primary Care (PC) and Secondary Care (SC). However, the NHS has plans to make paper patient records (PPR) redundant and to rely solely on EPRs. (Example). Indeed, there are a number of pilot sites in PC which are attempting to do this. Being of greater complexity, SC will take longer to become paper light/free.
While in PC the PPR is, uniform, across the NHS (Lloyd George envelopes). There are a number of software providers yet these systems do not currently allow easy transfer of data from one system to another.
SC Trusts have Trust-wide EPR systems, while still relying heavily on paper records. SC EPRs on most sites are utilised as patient medical administration systems. Alongside these, individual specialities may run their own Department-wide EPRs on which they have similar information, but also more detailed information. The Trust-wide EPRs and the Departmental EPRs have been separate but are gradually converging with the aim of making the electronic transfer of information between institutions and departments possible.
Electronic Health Records (EHR) do not yet exist in the NHS, though a NHS Information Authority development programme intends to have a system in place by 2005 (ERDIP). Whilst it is too early to state exactly how this will operate, it will probably deal with emergency care initially and then gradually incorporate other functions, e.g. care pathways, summary information, treatment preferences, allergies and other alerts. The EHR is unlikely to be designed to replace individual ERPs, but facilitate the transfer of segments of previously agreed data from one system to another. Consequently, presently incompatible software systems need to become compatible, requiring the designation of specific technical requirements for any new EPR system purchased in the NHS.
The EHR is a more sophisticated project than the transfer of patient records from paper to an electronic medium. The EHR will be formatted in the light of changes to definitions of authorship, ownership, confidentiality and legal accountability that currently exist with patient medical records. However, the result should be a more integrated NHS where information is transferred in a timely fashion to where it is needed to provide an optimum service for both patients and those responsible for their care, with minimum duplication of work. (Example).
Disclaimer: This FAQ was written by Dr Jean McKendree and does not reflect an official endorsement by the HEA or any other organisation. Any questions or queries should be sent to: enquiries@medev.ac.uk
Author: This FAQ was written by Dr Neil Jenkings and does not reflect an official endorsement by the LTSN or any other organisation. Any questions or comments can be sent to: neil.jenkings@ncl.ac.uk
Last updated: 04 July 2011
