Certified Healthcare Technology Specialist (CHTS) Process Workflow & Information Management Redesign Practice Exam

"An electronic record of patient health information containing care received in all health facilities" defines what?

1. Health information exchange

2. Personal health record

3. Electronic health record

4. Clinical information system

The correct answer is: Electronic health record

The definition provided describes an electronic health record (EHR). An EHR is a comprehensive digital version of a patient’s paper chart that includes a wide array of information such as medical history, diagnoses, medications, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and laboratory test results. One key aspect of an EHR is its ability to be shared across different health care settings, ensuring that all facilities involved in a patient's care have access to complete and accurate health information. This interoperability is crucial for coordinated care and improves the efficiency of healthcare delivery. In contrast, a personal health record allows individuals to maintain and manage their own health information but is not necessarily comprehensive across all health facilities. Health information exchange refers to the electronic exchange of health information between different organizations, which is a feature of EHRs but not a standalone record. A clinical information system generally pertains to specific functions within a healthcare organization, mainly focusing on data related to clinical actions, without encompassing all care received across multiple facilities. Thus, the definition aligns specifically with the characteristics of electronic health records.