Electronic Medical Records and Electronic Health Records: Overview for Nurse Practitioners

• Electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) have become essential systems by which nurse practitioners (NPs) communicate vital patient information to other members of the health care team as well as to patients.
• This article discusses important distinctions between EMRs and EHRs and reviews the genesis of these types of records.
• Important HIPAA provisions, a selected legal case, open patient access to medical information and threats to security are considered.
• Recommendations are offered on ways in which NPs can safeguard confidential patient information.

Electronic medical records (EMRs) and electronic health records (EHRs) have become essential systems by which nurse practitioners (NPs) communicate vital patient information to other members of the health care team as well as to patients. In this article we examine the important distinctions between EMRs and EHRs; review the genesis of these types of records; summarize applicable provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act from a recent legal case centered around NP utilization of EMRs and EHRs; address open patient access to medical information; and examine threats to security. Suggestions are offered on ways in which NPs can safeguard confidential patient information.