Which term describes a record that uses both paper and electronic media?

• A. Hybrid health record
• B. Electronic health record
• C. Electronic medical record
• D. Health information exchange

Answer: (A)

A hybrid health record describes a patient file that exists in both paper and electronic formats. This term recognizes that information is stored in two forms within the same record, a common situation during transitions to digital systems or when some departments retain paper copies for legal, operational, or practical reasons.

An electronic health record, by contrast, is fully digital and designed to be shared across providers, while an electronic medical record is the digital record for a single organization. Health information exchange refers to moving data between systems, not the format of an individual record. So the concept that best fits a record that uses both paper and electronic media is a hybrid health record.