The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is the digital backbone of modern healthcare, serving as the central hub for patient information and clinical decision-making. For pharmacists, proficiency in navigating and utilizing the EHR is no longer optional—it is a core competency for ensuring medication safety, providing clinical services, and collaborating with the healthcare team. This quiz for PharmD students will test your understanding of the functions, benefits, challenges, and informatics principles of the EHR in pharmacy practice.
1. The primary function of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is to:
- Manage a pharmacy’s financial accounting.
- Serve as a digital, real-time, patient-centered record of a patient’s health history.
- Act as a social media platform for healthcare providers.
- Order and manage pharmacy inventory.
Answer: Serve as a digital, real-time, patient-centered record of a patient’s health history.
2. A key difference between an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and an Electronic Health Record (EHR) is that:
- An EMR is a more comprehensive record than an EHR.
- An EHR is designed to be shared and accessed across different healthcare organizations, while an EMR is typically for a single practice.
- Only an EMR contains clinical information.
- The terms are perfectly synonymous with no distinction.
Answer: An EHR is designed to be shared and accessed across different healthcare organizations, while an EMR is typically for a single practice.
3. An alert that fires in the EHR when a physician orders penicillin for a patient with a documented penicillin allergy is an example of:
- A system bug.
- A billing notification.
- Clinical Decision Support (CDS).
- A medication administration record.
Answer: Clinical Decision Support (CDS).
4. The use of Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) within an EHR reduces medication errors by:
- Making prescriptions more difficult to write.
- Eliminating transcription errors from illegible handwriting.
- Increasing the time it takes for an order to reach the pharmacy.
- Requiring all orders to be approved by a hospital administrator.
Answer: Eliminating transcription errors from illegible handwriting.
5. The “meaningful use” program, established by the HITECH Act, was a key policy designed to promote:
- The adoption and effective use of certified EHR technology.
- The use of paper charts in all hospitals.
- A reduction in the number of pharmacists.
- The development of new brand-name drugs.
Answer: The adoption and effective use of certified EHR technology.
6. “Interoperability” is a critical feature of EHRs that allows for:
- The system to work offline without an internet connection.
- Different EHR systems to exchange and interpret shared data.
- A single user to be logged in at a time.
- The customization of the user interface color scheme.
Answer: Different EHR systems to exchange and interpret shared data.
7. A pharmacist uses the EHR to review a patient’s recent lab results, such as their serum creatinine, before dispensing a renally cleared medication. This is an application of the EHR for:
- Ensuring medication safety.
- Billing the patient.
- Ordering a new lab test.
- Documenting a patient complaint.
Answer: Ensuring medication safety.
8. Which of the following is an example of “structured data” in an EHR?
- A free-text progress note written by a physician.
- A scanned image of an old paper record.
- A diagnosis selected from a dropdown list using an ICD-10 code.
- A dictated voice memo attached to the patient’s file.
Answer: A diagnosis selected from a dropdown list using an ICD-10 code.
9. Structured data is more valuable for clinical decision support and data analytics because it is:
- More descriptive and nuanced.
- Easier for a computer to process and apply rules to.
- Less accurate than free text.
- The only type of data protected by HIPAA.
Answer: Easier for a computer to process and apply rules to.
10. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule specifically governs the protection of:
- All hospital equipment.
- The physical security of the pharmacy building.
- Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) within the EHR.
- The pharmacy’s financial records.
Answer: Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) within the EHR.
11. A “downtime procedure” is a critical policy that a pharmacy must have in place to:
- Outline how to safely care for patients when the EHR or computer system is unavailable.
- Schedule routine system maintenance.
- Train new employees on the EHR.
- Handle a patient complaint.
Answer: Outline how to safely care for patients when the EHR or computer system is unavailable.
12. The “medication reconciliation” process is heavily reliant on the EHR to:
- Pull information from multiple sources (e.g., pharmacy records, prior admissions) to create an accurate medication list.
- Automatically order refills for all of a patient’s medications.
- Determine the cost of each medication.
- Print patient education leaflets.
Answer: Pull information from multiple sources (e.g., pharmacy records, prior admissions) to create an accurate medication list.
13. What is a major barrier to the effective use of EHRs in improving patient care?
- The perfect interoperability between all systems.
- A lack of data in the records.
- Poor user interface design and workflow integration, which can make the system cumbersome to use.
- The fact that EHRs never have system downtimes.
Answer: Poor user interface design and workflow integration, which can make the system cumbersome to use.
14. A patient portal is a feature of many EHRs that advances care by:
- Allowing patients to view their lab results, request refills, and communicate with their care team.
- Decreasing patient engagement in their own health.
- Providing a platform for physicians to communicate with each other.
- Storing the hospital’s policy and procedure manuals.
Answer: Allowing patients to view their lab results, request refills, and communicate with their care team.
15. A pharmacist documents their clinical intervention and patient counseling in the EHR. This practice is important for:
- Communicating the pharmacist’s value and actions to the rest of the healthcare team.
- Ensuring continuity of care.
- Legal documentation.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
16. Barcode Medication Administration (BCMA) is a safety feature that links the physical medication to the EHR at the point of administration. This helps prevent errors in:
- Prescribing
- Transcribing
- Dispensing
- Administration
Answer: Administration
17. A key security feature of an EHR is “role-based access,” which means:
- Every user has access to all information in the entire system.
- Users can only access the specific information that is necessary for them to perform their job duties.
- Only physicians can access the EHR.
- Patients can edit their own medical records freely.
Answer: Users can only access the specific information that is necessary for them to perform their job duties.
18. Using the EHR to identify all patients with an A1c >9% to enroll them in a pharmacist-led diabetes service is an example of using the EHR for:
- Basic dispensing.
- Population health management.
- Inventory control.
- Staff scheduling.
Answer: Population health management.
19. How does the EHR support the practice of pharmacogenomics?
- It can store a patient’s genetic test results and fire a clinical decision support alert when a relevant drug is prescribed.
- It cannot be used for pharmacogenomics.
- It automatically orders a genetic test for every patient admitted to the hospital.
- It allows the patient to change their own genetic information.
Answer: It can store a patient’s genetic test results and fire a clinical decision support alert when a relevant drug is prescribed.
20. A pharmacist receives an e-prescription through the EHR. A major safety advantage of this is:
- The increased risk of forgery.
- The elimination of the “transcription” step in the medication use process.
- The slower delivery of the prescription to the pharmacy.
- The inability to communicate with the prescriber.
Answer: The elimination of the “transcription” step in the medication use process.
21. A common source of frustration for clinicians using an EHR is:
- The speed and efficiency of all systems.
- The excessive number of clicks and alerts required to perform simple tasks (“alert fatigue”).
- The lack of any need for training.
- The perfect integration with all other hospital systems.
Answer: The excessive number of clicks and alerts required to perform simple tasks (“alert fatigue”).
22. An “audit trail” is an EHR security feature that:
- Tracks all user activity, including who accessed a patient’s record and when.
- Is used to order new medications.
- Provides a list of all patients in the hospital.
- Is a type of clinical decision support alert.
Answer: Tracks all user activity, including who accessed a patient’s record and when.
23. The “copy and paste” function in an EHR is a known safety risk because it can:
- Save clinicians time.
- Lead to the propagation of outdated or inaccurate information in a patient’s chart.
- Improve the accuracy of clinical notes.
- It is not a safety risk.
Answer: Lead to the propagation of outdated or inaccurate information in a patient’s chart.
24. The leadership skill of “change management” is crucial when a pharmacy or hospital is:
- Performing routine daily tasks.
- Implementing a new EHR system or a major software update.
- Closing for a holiday.
- Hiring a new technician.
Answer: Implementing a new EHR system or a major software update.
25. A pharmacist’s role as a “medication expert” on the healthcare team is enhanced by the EHR by:
- Giving them access to a comprehensive view of the patient’s data to make informed recommendations.
- Limiting their access to only dispensing information.
- Making it harder to find lab results.
- Replacing their clinical judgment with automated alerts.
Answer: Giving them access to a comprehensive view of the patient’s data to make informed recommendations.
26. The “digital divide” can be a barrier to the benefits of EHRs if:
- Patients lack the internet access or digital literacy to use tools like patient portals.
- All patients are given free internet access.
- All patient portals are designed to be extremely simple.
- EHRs are not connected to the internet.
Answer: Patients lack the internet access or digital literacy to use tools like patient portals.
27. Standardized “order sets” in a CPOE system are a feature that:
- Allows providers to create their own custom orders for every patient.
- Bundles common, evidence-based orders for a specific condition to improve efficiency and reduce variation.
- Increases the number of prescribing errors.
- Is used primarily for billing.
Answer: Bundles common, evidence-based orders for a specific condition to improve efficiency and reduce variation.
28. Why is it critical for a pharmacist to be involved in the design and build of an EHR’s pharmacy module?
- To ensure the system supports a safe and efficient medication use process.
- It is a task for the IT department only.
- To make sure the system’s colors are aesthetically pleasing.
- To get a discount on the software license.
Answer: To ensure the system supports a safe and efficient medication use process.
29. A key goal of the “pharmacist eCare Plan” is to:
- Create a separate, isolated record of the pharmacist’s work.
- Use a standardized, interoperable format to document a pharmacist’s clinical work and share it within the EHR.
- Replace the need for verbal communication with physicians.
- Be used only for patient education.
Answer: Use a standardized, interoperable format to document a pharmacist’s clinical work and share it within the EHR.
30. The ultimate purpose of the EHR in pharmacy practice is to:
- Create a complex system that is difficult to use.
- Provide a tool that helps pharmacists improve patient care and medication safety.
- Increase the amount of time pharmacists spend on data entry.
- Replace the need for professional judgment.
Answer: Provide a tool that helps pharmacists improve patient care and medication safety.
31. In the informatics pyramid, the EHR is a tool for turning patient data into:
- Actionable information and knowledge.
- More raw data.
- A printed paper chart.
- A bill for the patient.
Answer: Actionable information and knowledge.
32. An EHR can help reduce health disparities by:
- Making healthcare more expensive.
- Providing data that allows health systems to identify and address inequities in care among different populations.
- Being accessible only to certain patient groups.
- It cannot help reduce health disparities.
Answer: Providing data that allows health systems to identify and address inequities in care among different populations.
33. The use of EHR Go in the pharmacy curriculum is designed to:
- Certify students as EHR technicians.
- Provide a safe, simulated environment for students to practice using an EHR for clinical tasks.
- Teach students how to repair EHR hardware.
- Replace all other forms of learning.
Answer: Provide a safe, simulated environment for students to practice using an EHR for clinical tasks.
34. A major benefit of an integrated EHR is that a pharmacist in the community pharmacy could potentially see:
- The patient’s entire hospital discharge summary and medication list, improving continuity of care.
- Only the prescriptions filled at their own pharmacy.
- The patient’s financial records.
- The social media profiles of the patient’s physicians.
Answer: The patient’s entire hospital discharge summary and medication list, improving continuity of care.
35. A “hard stop” alert in a CPOE system is one that:
- Can be easily overridden by the prescriber.
- Prevents the prescriber from proceeding with an order until a correction is made or a valid reason is provided.
- Is for informational purposes only.
- Appears after the order has been sent to the pharmacy.
Answer: Prevents the prescriber from proceeding with an order until a correction is made or a valid reason is provided.
36. The pharmacist’s role in the “monitoring” stage of the medication use process is supported by an EHR that can:
- Trend a patient’s lab values over time.
- Alert the pharmacist to a new lab result that is outside the normal range.
- Document adverse drug reactions.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
37. One of the main reasons for the high cost of EHR implementation is:
- The cost of the software license.
- The need for hardware upgrades.
- The extensive staff training required.
- All of the above.
Answer: All of the above.
38. Which of the following is a key component of data security within an EHR?
- Data encryption
- Regular backups
- User authentication (passwords)
- All of the above
Answer: All of the above
39. How does the EHR facilitate practice-based research?
- It makes it impossible to gather data.
- It allows researchers to query large amounts of de-identified patient data to answer clinical questions.
- It only contains data on healthy patients.
- It is not used for research purposes.
Answer: It allows researchers to query large amounts of de-identified patient data to answer clinical questions.
40. A pharmacist using the EHR to review a patient’s progress notes from a recent specialist visit is an example of the EHR improving:
- Medication dispensing speed.
- Interprofessional communication and care coordination.
- Inventory management.
- Patient billing.
Answer: Interprofessional communication and care coordination.
41. The term “user interface” (UI) of an EHR refers to:
- The underlying code of the program.
- The way the information is visually presented to the user and how they interact with it.
- The physical computer hardware.
- The speed of the network connection.
Answer: The way the information is visually presented to the user and how they interact with it.
42. The “problem list” in an EHR is a key section that should contain:
- A list of all medications the patient has ever taken.
- A current, accurate summary of the patient’s major health conditions.
- The patient’s family contact information.
- The schedule of the patient’s upcoming appointments.
Answer: A current, accurate summary of the patient’s major health conditions.
43. A significant challenge with clinical decision support is:
- Keeping the underlying knowledge base and rules up-to-date with the latest evidence.
- The fact that medical evidence never changes.
- The simplicity of all clinical guidelines.
- A lack of new drugs to add to the system.
Answer: Keeping the underlying knowledge base and rules up-to-date with the latest evidence.
44. A well-designed EHR should support, not hinder, the pharmacist’s:
- Ability to leave work early.
- Cognitive workflow and decision-making process.
- Social media presence.
- Ability to take long breaks.
Answer: Cognitive workflow and decision-making process.
45. The use of a “Dashboard Presentation” to show a hospital’s medication safety metrics is an application of using EHR data for:
- Individual patient counseling.
- Quality improvement and performance monitoring.
- Staff payroll.
- Marketing.
Answer: Quality improvement and performance monitoring.
46. A key ethical responsibility when using an EHR is to:
- Access the records of friends or celebrities out of curiosity.
- Only access the patient information that is needed to provide care.
- Share your password with the entire pharmacy staff.
- Document opinions about a patient’s character in the medical record.
Answer: Only access the patient information that is needed to provide care.
47. A pharmacist helps to build an “order set” for community-acquired pneumonia in the EHR. This advances care by:
- Promoting standardized, evidence-based treatment for the condition.
- Increasing the use of non-formulary antibiotics.
- Making it harder for physicians to place orders.
- Ensuring all patients get the same dose, regardless of renal function.
Answer: Promoting standardized, evidence-based treatment for the condition.
48. Why is it important for a pharmacist to have good typing skills and computer literacy in modern practice?
- It is not important.
- Because the EHR is the primary tool for documentation and information retrieval.
- To be able to play games during downtime.
- To help the IT department with their work.
Answer: Because the EHR is the primary tool for documentation and information retrieval.
49. The integration of genomic data into the EHR is a key component of:
- Forging ahead into the era of personalized medicine.
- Returning to a paper-based system.
- Making healthcare less precise.
- Decreasing the amount of data a clinician has to review.
Answer: Forging ahead into the era of personalized medicine.
50. The ultimate success of any EHR is measured by its ability to:
- Generate profits for the vendor.
- Be the most complex system on the market.
- Improve patient safety and the quality of healthcare.
- Eliminate the need for healthcare professionals.
Answer: Improve patient safety and the quality of healthcare.
I am a Registered Pharmacist under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, and the founder of PharmacyFreak.com. I hold a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from Rungta College of Pharmaceutical Science and Research. With a strong academic foundation and practical knowledge, I am committed to providing accurate, easy-to-understand content to support pharmacy students and professionals. My aim is to make complex pharmaceutical concepts accessible and useful for real-world application.
Mail- Sachin@pharmacyfreak.com