U.S. electronic health records

Electronic health records, explained for U.S. practices

Selection guides, regulatory context, and practical advice tailored to the realities of running a practice in the United States.

GuidesRegulation & IncentivesSelectionPractice Types

Guides

Foundational explainers on what EHRs are, how they work, and the features that matter.

Guides

What Is an EHR and How Does It Work?

A plain-language explanation of electronic health records: what an EHR is, how it differs from an EMR, and how the system supports clinical care.

6 min
Guides

Certified EHR Technology Explained

What Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) means, how the ONC Health IT Certification Program works, and why certification matters for practices.

6 min
Guides

The Patient Portal and 21st Century Cures

How the 21st Century Cures Act and the information blocking rule expanded patient access to electronic health information through portals and apps.

6 min
Guides

EHR and Clinical Quality Measures

What clinical quality measures (CQMs) are, how EHRs calculate and report them, and how they connect to federal quality programs like MIPS.

6 min
Guides

EHR Data Backup and Business Continuity

Why EHR backup and contingency planning matter, what the HIPAA Security Rule expects, and how to keep your practice running during downtime.

6 min

Regulation & Incentives

Plain-language context on the federal rules and programs that shape EHR use in the U.S.

Regulation & Incentives

Meaningful Use to Promoting Interoperability: A History

How federal EHR incentives evolved from Meaningful Use under HITECH to today's Promoting Interoperability program within MIPS.

7 min
Regulation & Incentives

MIPS and the EHR

How the Merit-based Incentive Payment System uses your EHR across its performance categories, and what practices need from certified technology.

7 min
Regulation & Incentives

The Information Blocking Rule for Practices

A practice-focused explanation of the information blocking rule: who it applies to, what counts as interference, and the exceptions that may apply.

7 min
Regulation & Incentives

HIPAA Basics for EHR Users

A practical HIPAA primer for everyone who works in an EHR: the Privacy and Security Rules, PHI, minimum necessary, and everyday safeguards.

7 min
Regulation & Incentives

Breach Notification and Your EHR

What the HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires when ePHI is compromised, how EHR audit logs help, and the steps practices must take.

6 min

Selection

A practical, vendor-neutral approach to shortlisting, evaluating, and buying EHR software.

Selection

How to Shortlist EHR Vendors

A vendor-neutral process for narrowing the EHR market to a manageable shortlist based on requirements, fit, and credible evidence.

6 min
Selection

Questions to Ask in an EHR Sales Demo

Cut through the sales pitch with specific, scenario-based questions that reveal how an EHR will really perform in your practice.

6 min
Selection

Total Cost of Ownership for EHR Software

Look beyond the monthly subscription: the full cost of EHR ownership includes implementation, training, integrations, and ongoing fees.

6 min
Selection

Cloud-Based EHR Considerations

What to weigh when choosing a cloud (SaaS) EHR: data security, BAAs, uptime, internet dependence, and vendor responsibilities.

6 min
Selection

Reading EHR Reviews Critically

How to read EHR reviews and rankings without being misled by bias, sponsored placements, and unrepresentative samples.

6 min

Practice Types

How EHR needs differ across specialties and care settings.

Practice Types

EHR for Primary Care

What primary care practices should look for in an EHR: chronic care management, preventive reminders, quality reporting, and care coordination.

6 min
Practice Types

EHR for Behavioral Health

Special EHR considerations for behavioral health: sensitive records, 42 CFR Part 2, treatment planning, and group and telehealth workflows.

7 min
Practice Types

EHR for Pediatrics

Pediatric EHR essentials: growth charts, weight-based dosing, immunization tracking, registry connections, and family and consent workflows.

6 min
Practice Types

EHR for Multi-Specialty Groups

EHR considerations for multi-specialty groups: specialty content, configurable workflows, shared records, scalability, and governance.

6 min
Practice Types

EHR for Federally Qualified Health Centers

EHR considerations for FQHCs: UDS reporting, sliding-fee scales, enabling services, care for diverse populations, and HRSA program requirements.

7 min