Electronic Health & Medical Records
You say “Electronic Health Records” I say “Electronic Medical Records.” What is the difference? It turns out there is a difference, and at ONC we are working on changing the conversation around each of those terms. We’ll highlight recent news articles and online conversations where the author has used the terms in ways that we believe are limiting or in ways that cause confusion, and will work to provide clarity around how each term should be used to move America toward a future where our health is managed digitally.
Latest Blog Posts
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EHR Interoperability Training Module Suite Online Now at HealthIT.gov
The State HIE Program Policy Office and the Regional Extension Center Program are excited to report that the full suite of five Interoperability Training Modules to support the attainment of Stage 2 Meaningful Use measures is now available at HealthIT.gov. Designed for ONC grantees, providers and implementers, these five modules help guide stakeholders from the elementary level of EHR interoperability all the way to how the technical details of the process are designed and to meeting Stage 2 MU data exchange requirements. -
Bridging the Gap Between Behavioral Health and EHRs in New Jersey
The need for electronic health records (EHRs) designed specifically for those suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues has never been greater. Patients living with diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are twice as likely to suffer from depression than the general population.1Hurricane Sandy, last year’s Nor’easter, foreclosures, unemployment, and the economy are just a few of the many external stressors and life traumas that may contribute to increased incidence of behavioral health conditions. And that doesn’t take into consideration personal stressors.
The burden of behavioral health disorders is compounded by the prevalence of multiple conditions among those who are already chronically ill.
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Managing My Personal Health Record: My Story of Living with Lupus
When I was 15 years old I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erthamatosis (Lupus). My parents and I didn’t really know or understand what Lupus was, but we knew that people died from it and that I needed to be extremely careful with my health. I remember how scared I was, along with being in extreme pain, barely able to walk. In addition I was puffy and losing my hair as a side effect of my medications. For me, the Lupus subsequently caused multiple other chronic illnesses, including Rheumatoid Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, and Depression. I remember going from doctor to doctor, getting test after test and then, one day, somehow, someone lost my entire set of medical records from birth until age 15!
