Electronic Health Records Overview

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the features and functions of major commercial electronic health records (EHR) and reviews how they are being used in academic medical centers (AMC). AMCs were among the pioneers in developing automated EHRs, and many AMCs are now faced with deciding whether or not to upgrade or replace their EHR systems. Commercial-off-the shelf (COTS) systems may be an attractive and cost-effective solution. COTS systems have defined some necessary data structures, vocabularies and interfaces appropriate for clinical trial research, and using COTS in AMC settings may improve data collection and sharing in ways that promote better clinical trials management and scientific discovery. But some AMCs continue to believe that custom-built EHRs are a better fit than COTS EHRs