President Obama often touts Cleveland Clinic as a model for the rest of the healthcare system, according to an article from CNN, which notes that one reason for the praise is that "Cleveland Clinic is among the trailblazers in electronic record keeping and interaction with patients."

CNN's wording: "electronic record keeping" is a troubling riff on the traditionally used electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR), but it becomes even more muddled once the reporter offers an example of such "record keeping."

"Many [patients] leave the clinic with home devices to test heart rate, blood sugar levels and blood pressure that automatically use wireless transmission to send the results to a home computer and then on to the clinic. Doctors say the impact on the quality of care is nothing short of astounding -- a dangerous reading results in an urgent alert e-mail to the doctor and his staff, and that time is precious in altering approaches to, say, keep blood pressure under control and avoid escalation to a more serious -- and more expensive -- medical episode."

The article goes on to explain that "Obama's stimulus legislation included funding for an expansion of electronic record keeping, and he has held up the practice as a revolutionary way to improve quality and cut costs." 

Further evidence of the muddling: A rep from Cleveland Clinic told CNN that "electronic record keeping" and sharing will lead to fewer duplicative tests and other cost savings.

While wireless remote monitoring and electronic health records could go hand-in-hand some day, their uptake is not co-dependent. It may be an ideal outcome, but the healthcare system does not need EMR adoption to succeed in order for wireless remote monitoring services to succeed as well. Physicians, nurses or other care givers can access data from wireless remote monitoring services through a secure Internet connection, they don't absolutely need an EMR in place to use mHealth technology to provide better care. 

Muddled semantics like CNN's "electronic record keeping" are blurring lines that are best kept on the straight and narrow.

Read the full CNN article here.