Electronic Medical Record (EMR)
- WA is getting an Electronic Medical Record, a major WA Health transformation.
- Created in partnership with consumers and clinicians.
- An EMR improves patient safety.
What is an EMR?
WA Health will establish an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for every WA Health patient. An EMR will deliver digital, connected capabilities that will modernise and transform our system. Like Google maps - it provides direction and plans the route for clinicians. An EMR prompts clinicians through automated alerts, providing safety guardrails for patients.
Your healthcare team across the state will be able to record and access information, in real time, to monitor, diagnose, treat, and manage illness. An EMR will reduce the risks and delays that can be associated with paper-based systems. It will improve access to data, providing better research and quality improvement opportunities.
An EMR will provide a patient portal which will support you to make informed health choices and manage your own care.
EMRs have been used across Australia and around the world for several years. The WA Health EMR will transform WA Health and provide immense benefits for Western Australians.
EMR Program - 2025
This is a transformational Health project and work is already underway. WA Health is digitising paper medical records across our vast state using interim technology called a Digital Medical Record. This work will prepare the system for the WA Health EMR transformation and is already improving health outcomes across WA.
Working together
The EMR is being designed with consumers, clinicians and IT experts. WA Health will choose a vendor to provide an EMR and has been working with clinicians and the Health Consumers’ Council to create the requirements for an EMR that will improve safety and quality of care for all Western Australians.
What’s next
With the right vendor we will purchase a statewide system that can be adapted to meet WA Health’s needs. The procurement process will be fair, robust and competitive.
This is a multi-year program and the full deployment of an EMR is several years away.
What is the difference between an electronic medical record (EMR) and an electronic health record (EHR)?
EHR commonly know an MyHealth care record (external site) is a federal health record which includes documents such as GP summary, immunisations, pathology and diagnostic imaging reports, prescription and dispensing information, hospital discharge summaries and more, all in one place. These documents can be accessed through MyHealth Record.
An EMR is a record of your care within a WA public hospital or health service.
More information
Last reviewed: 15-04-2025
Acknowledgements
Electronic Medical Record Program
This publication is provided for education and information purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical care. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not imply endorsement and is not intended to replace advice from your healthcare professional. Readers should note that over time currency and completeness of the information may change. All users should seek advice from a qualified healthcare professional for a diagnosis and answers to their medical questions.