A tool that is so important yet so sensitive deserves growth and focus especially considering it holds the key to relieving many challenges faced by the healthcare sector. This month, I ask experts: What is the future of Electronic Health Records?
Chris Hilger, Master’s Student in Health Data Science at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, gives his two pence.
If Electronic Health Records (EHRs) were a houseguest, right now they’d be the one who leaves dirty dishes in the sink and scatters mystery papers everywhere. Sure, they’re useful in theory—they know where everything is—but can anyone else find it? Probably not. The future of EHRs is about tidying up that mess, making these systems more intuitive, and turning them into well-organised partners rather than digital clutter magnets.
First, expect EHRs to get friendlier. Instead of pages of cryptic codes and data fields that read like a spaceship’s user manual, they’ll show people what they need—no more, no less—right when they need it. This shift means doctors won’t have to spend precious time playing detective. By surfacing the right information in a clean, understandable format, EHRs will let clinicians be clinicians, not part-time data wranglers.
At the same time, these systems will finally learn to play nicely with others. Today, health data often sits in separate silos, refusing to socialise across hospitals, pharmacies, labs and even patients’ own devices. The future EHR will value teamwork, connecting smoothly with different platforms and devices and moving data around securely and easily. Rather than acting like a moody teenager, EHRs will grow into a dependable friend that helps everyone stay on the same page.
Patients won’t be left out of the party, either. The coming changes should make it simpler for individuals to access their records, understand what’s going on and feel truly involved in their own care. Imagine being able to quickly check how your treatment plan is progressing or easily share your latest lab results with a new specialist. With smarter EHRs, that’s the norm—not a distant dream.
On the technical side, expect more advanced analytics, secure cloud storage and even Machine Learning that can spot problems before they snowball. But all this fancy technology won’t matter if it isn’t easy to use and doesn’t directly improve the care experience. The ultimate goal is to get everyone working better together—from the front-desk receptionist to the top surgeon—so that care feels coordinated, responsive and human.
In short, tomorrow’s EHRs should feel less like a chore and more like a valuable co-worker who can actually hold a conversation. We’re headed toward a future where these systems help deliver smoother, smarter and more compassionate healthcare—without all that digital mess.
Roman Burdiuzha, Co-founder & CTO at Gart
EHRs are heading toward a future that’s more integrated, user-friendly, and globally connected. Let’s break it down:
Trends in EHR Systems
Interoperability: Countries like Estonia, Canada, and Finland are paving the way with systems that allow EHRs to share data seamlessly while keeping security and privacy front and centre. Estonia’s X-Road and Finland’s KanTa are great examples of this in action.
Cloud-Based Solutions: Cloud-based platforms like Athenahealth are making waves by removing the need for on-site installations. These systems are cost-effective, easy to access, and automatically stay up to date. They also work on a variety of devices, helping make healthcare more accessible for everyone.
User Engagement: Systems like Finland’s Taltioni put users in the driver’s seat by letting them manage their own health data. These platforms encourage personalised health management and preventive care through apps and portals designed with the user in mind.
Unified National Systems: New Zealand is moving toward a single, nationwide EHR system to streamline patient care and reduce duplication. It’s a trend that’s likely to inspire similar efforts elsewhere.
Challenges
Standardisation: Sharing data across systems requires universal standards for formats, protocols, and terminology—a tough but crucial hurdle to overcome.
Cost and Access: Cloud solutions are cheaper, but widespread adoption can still be tricky, especially in areas with limited infrastructure.
Privacy and Security: With more sensitive health data flowing around, systems need top-notch encryption, strict access controls, and audit trails to keep everything safe.
What’s Next?
Open-Source Platforms: Platforms like the US’s VistA show how open-source models can drive innovation and allow for easy customisation.
Integrated Ecosystems: Future EHRs aim to combine clinical, genetic and lifestyle data for a more holistic approach to healthcare. Countries like New Zealand and Finland are already leading the way here.
Global Implications: EHRs are no longer just about patient records—they’re becoming key tools for public health, policymaking and global health initiatives. Countries investing in scalable, interoperable systems will set the standard for the future of healthcare.
Tone Southerland, PCC Domain Representative at Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise
Imagine a world where your critical health information is accessible to doctors worldwide with just a click. Thanks to the International Patient Summary (IPS), this vision is becoming a reality. By standardising health data globally, IPS enables seamless data sharing across regions, but achieving this future requires overcoming significant challenges in interoperability, technology and policy.
Healthcare lags behind other industries like finance in adopting advanced technologies, a gap driven by three key factors. First, the deeply human aspect of healthcare complicates data codification. Patient-doctor relationships involve nuanced, narrative elements that structured data cannot fully capture.
Second, healthcare workflows are far more complex than those in industries like banking. Patients transition between diverse care settings, such as primary care, specialists and home care, adding layers of complexity.
Third, policy plays a crucial role. Government regulations and incentives encourage data exchange and electronic health record (EHR) adoption, but these frameworks also create compliance burdens that slow progress.
Interoperability remains the cornerstone of healthcare’s future. A National Library of Medicine survey found that while 70% of physicians surveyed have access to healthcare data, only 8% find it very easy to use across different EHR systems. Bridging this gap requires more than just innovative software; it demands rigorous testing to ensure systems work together seamlessly in diverse environments.
Initiatives like the IHE Connectathons address this need. These events are more than just technical trials—they set the global standard for interoperability. Healthcare technology vendors must prove that their systems can securely and efficiently exchange data across diverse healthcare environments. Those that succeed earn the highly desired IHE Connectathon Seal, a mark of quality that assures patients, providers, and healthcare organisations that a product meets the highest standards for secure health information exchange.
Looking ahead, the future of electronic health records (EHRs) is increasingly patient-centered. Consumers are demanding greater access to their own health data, and EHR systems must rise to meet this expectation. Events like the upcoming IHE North America Connectathon Week exemplify the collaborative spirit needed to tackle these challenges, bringing together healthcare IT vendors to solve interoperability issues in real-time. The future of EHRs hinges on collaboration among policymakers, healthcare providers, payers, and technology developers to harmonise regulations, improve data governance and uphold patient privacy. With IPS and interoperability advancements leading the way, a truly connected healthcare system is within reach. This vision is not just about improving efficiency—it’s about saving lives.
Nate Kelly, Chief Digital Distribution Officer, ChartSwap
Healthcare in the US is undergoing rapid transformations, driven by rising costs, policy changes, evolving patient expectations, shortages in the provider workforce and technology advancements. Healthcare providers are looking to their technology partners, especially electronic health record (EHR) vendors, to help their organisations to evolve with the shifting landscape. As we look toward 2025, EHR vendors will be at the forefront of innovative trends designed to improve patient care, streamline workflows, and enhance interoperability. Several key innovation trends are poised to shape the future of EHR vendors.
- Enhanced interoperability and data exchange
Interoperability and data fluidity remains a top priority for innovation in 2025. According to the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) gaps in the interoperability of healthcare data cost the US Health System US$30 billion each year. But these gaps yield more than financial challenges for the US healthcare system. Without patient-centred data healthcare providers struggle to provide coordinated care, to collect appropriate payment for care, and to operate their organisations in a way that promotes the best patient experience. The result is healthcare outcomes in the US that lag behind other nations despite spending a significantly higher percentage of GDP on healthcare, according to the Commonwealth Fund. Increased regulation in the interoperability space, like the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) and the further adoption of standards for data exchange like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) will increase the effectiveness of EHR investment in the interoperability of healthcare data in 2025.
- AI and predictive analytics
The promise of advanced data models AI and predictive analytics in healthcare is too great for the progress made thus far to slow down in 2025. This progress is, in part, due to the increased need for efficiency caused by staffing shortages with an expected shortage of 78,610 FTE registered nurses and 64,000 physicians that will widen to 86,000 physicians by 2036. Given these workforce challenges the opportunity for AI to aid in diagnostics, treatment and coordination of care is important for access to care and the overall health of the US population. There are also administrative benefits like predictive staffing, decreased administrative burden in the revenue cycle, the use of voice and other technologies for charting and the transcription of care, etc.
- Data security
2023 was the worst year on record for cyberattacks against healthcare organizations in the US and 2024 will end with similar or slightly elevated numbers, although it could be argued that the scope of the attacks in 2024 were greater than in previous years. EHR vendors will continue to strengthen their defenses against these attacks in 2024 by implementing advance security technologies in their systems like multi-factor or biometric authentication, data encryption, system monitoring and increasing the frequency of security patches and updates.
With rapid change across the healthcare landscape there are many opportunities for EHR and other healthcare technology companies to partner with healthcare organisations to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and security of healthcare delivery across the US. We can expect 2025 to be a year of rapid innovation fuelled by very real challenges across the industry.
Sterling Snead, CEO at Self Research Institute
The Future of Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
The vision for the future of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) revolves around patient-centric data models powered by personalized AI agents. This shift aims to resolve the challenges of current systems and usher in an era of precision medicine and seamless healthcare interoperability.
Current Challenges
Today’s medical ontologies and knowledge graphs are built around healthcare providers and billing systems, leading to fragmented and incomplete data. Many healthcare institutions still rely on paper forms or siloed digital systems that lack interoperability. As a result, patients bear the responsibility of consolidating their medical histories, often with gaps or inaccuracies. This reliance on memory and manual data collection undermines continuity of care.
The Role of AI and Human-Centric Models
The future of EHRs will leverage advancements in AI, specifically Small Language Models (SLMs) and knowledge graphs, to enable personalised and human-centric data mapping. Institutions like Stanford’s Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence and initiatives from McKinsey and IBM highlight the growing importance of this approach. Personalised AI agents can serve as intermediaries, translating patient data into standardised formats for existing systems, reducing errors and improving accessibility.
A Standardised and Open Approach
To achieve global interoperability, a standardised medical ontology with a universal translation layer is essential. Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) and Web3 technologies can empower patients to maintain a portable Personal Health Record (PHR) on their devices, compatible with any EHR system worldwide. Projects like Harvard’s Unified Clinical Vocabulary Embeddings and the Self Data Atlas from Self Research Institute exemplify this direction.
The Future: Precision Medicine and AI Bots
EHRs of the future will integrate precision medicine AI bots to assist with prevention, lifestyle optimisation and diagnosis. By supporting patient-centered care with global standards and advanced technology, these systems will enhance quality of life for individuals worldwide.
When implemented effectively, next-generation EHRs promise to transform healthcare, bridging gaps in data, improving accuracy, and fostering a more connected and efficient system for all.
