Transformational approaches for moving clinical documentation processes to EHRs, and an overview of stages in the journey to electronic records.

EHRs will eventually replace paper charts with electronic records and notes, but the transition period is of much concern as the medical history and data contained in the existing paper chart may be vital to providing safe and appropriate care to patients. For this reason, alongside regulatory requirements for records retention, hospitals are faced with moving forward with electronic charts while needing to manage the information contained in paper charts gathered during the transition so that they can be made available to caregivers. This challenge creates the need for hospitals and practices moving to the EHR to consider and adopt a records transition strategy that allows them to access historical data while moving forward with their EHR.