An Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a digital system used to store and manage longitudinal patient health information across clinical care settings.
In research, EHR data may support feasibility, recruitment, eligibility verification, safety assessments, and endpoint confirmation. Use of EHR data must be appropriately authorized, privacy-protected, and aligned with protocol and consent requirements. Oversight teams expect clear documentation of data access, extraction methods, and data quality controls. Responsible EHR use can improve trial efficiency and enable real-world data integration while maintaining participant protections.