Are changes made by patients in their personal health record automatically updated in the electronic medical record (EMR)?

Changes made by patients in their personal health record do not automatically update in the electronic medical record (EMR). This is because personal health records (PHRs) and EMRs are typically separate systems, each serving distinct purposes. PHRs are primarily managed by patients and contain personal health information that patients input themselves, while EMRs are managed by healthcare providers and include data that is collected during clinical encounters.

For changes from a PHR to be reflected in the EMR, a deliberate process must occur, which may involve manual entry or integration processes that depend on the systems in use. These systems are often not interconnected in a way that allows for automatic updates, underscoring the importance of maintaining separate data management processes between patient-reported information and clinician records. This separation helps ensure that the information in the EMR is accurate and verified by healthcare professionals responsible for patient care.