What is the main objective of electronic health records (EHR)?

The main objective of electronic health records (EHR) is to improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. EHR systems are designed to collect, store, and manage patient health information in a digital format, which facilitates better communication among healthcare providers and between providers and patients. With EHRs, clinicians can access comprehensive information about a patient's medical history, medications, allergies, and test results in real-time, leading to better-informed clinical decisions.

By streamlining processes and ensuring that accurate, up-to-date information is readily available, EHRs enhance the overall patient experience and can result in improved health outcomes. This focus on care quality and efficiency is a fundamental aspect of EHR adoption and reflects the ongoing efforts within healthcare to move towards more integrated and patient-centered approaches.

While reducing administrative costs, facilitating research, and improving hospital revenues are important aspects of EHRs, they are secondary to the primary goal of enhancing patient care. Hence, improving the quality and efficiency of patient care stands out as the main objective of implementing electronic health records.