Certified Medical Administrative Assistants (CMAA) Practice Exam

The role of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) in a medical office is to store and manage patient health information electronically. EHRs are comprehensive digital versions of patients' paper charts and include a wide range of information such as medical history, diagnoses, medications, immunization dates, allergies, radiology images, and test results. This electronic system facilitates easy access to patient data for healthcare providers, enhancing efficiency in patient care, improving the accuracy of diagnoses, and supporting better clinical decision-making.

EHRs also allow for better coordination among healthcare professionals and can significantly improve documentation processes. They enable secure sharing of patient information across different healthcare settings, thereby streamlining care for patients who may require a referral or multiple healthcare providers. Thus, the focus of EHRs is primarily on efficiently managing and maintaining patient health records, rather than providing in-person consultations, generating billing statements, or scheduling appointments. Those tasks may utilize different software or systems within a medical office.