01 Aug 2025

What Are Electronic Health Records? A Guide for Community Health Programs

What Are Electronic Health Records (EHR)?

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are digital versions of a patient’s medical history. They include key information such as diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, allergies, and test results. Unlike simple electronic charts, EHR systems are built to share information securely across care teams and systems—supporting better coordination and long-term health outcomes.

For healthcare and community-based organizations, EHRs enable care teams to track holistic health and social determinants of health (SDOH) in real time.

Why Community Health Programs Need an Electronic Health Record (EHR) Platform

While EHRs are standard in clinical settings, many community health programs and healthcare organizations lack tools that reflect their workflows, limited resources, and program complexity.

1. Streamlined Case Management

Healthcare organizations work with diverse populations across housing, food security, behavioral health, and chronic care, requiring systems that can manage both clinical and social care data efficiently.

Log client encounters in real time
Share referrals across trusted providers
Monitor care plans across medical and social needs
Automate updates for grant reporting

“Our staff used to rely on spreadsheets and email. Now we have a full view of each client’s journey.” – Community Health Coordinator, NYC

2. Secure, Compliant Recordkeeping

Community organizations handle sensitive data and must meet HIPAA and local compliance standards. With Pillar :

All records are encrypted and role-based
Audit logs track every change
Templates and workflows are compliance-ready, reducing risk

Explore our Compliance Guide to understand how community health programs can meet HIPAA and grant requirements.

3. Collaboration Across Programs and Partners

Pillar’s EHR supports cross-agency collaboration—whether you’re coordinating care with a shelter, behavioral health provider, or food pantry. The system offers:

Shared dashboards across partner orgs
Automated referral tracking
Outcome-based reporting tied to funding goals

Electronic Health Records in Action: Real-World Impact for Community Health Programs

Community health organizations using Pillar’s EHR platform have seen significant improvements in:

35% faster intake and assessment processes
Up to 50% improvement in grant report preparation time
Increased referral completion rates across SDOH programs

Whether you're managing maternal health initiatives, elder care, or homeless outreach—an EHR system tailored to your needs can dramatically improve how your team works and how your clients are supported.

Get Started with Pillar’s EHR Platform

Pillar by SocialRoots.ai is built for community health organizations from the ground up, combining clinical and social care management in one platform.