> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://edehr.gitbook.io/edehr-compass/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://edehr.gitbook.io/edehr-compass/introduction/about-edehr-and-edehr-compass.md).

# About EdEHR & EdEHR Compass

Curious about what makes EdEHR unique, why EHR training matters, or how EdEHR Compass can help your team?

This page gives you a quick overview of the EdEHR platform, its open-source roots, the philosophy behind its design, and what you can expect from the EdEHR Compass knowledge hub.

Here’s what you’ll find below:

* [Why EHR training is essential for today’s health learners](#why-ehr-training-matters)
* [What sets EdEHR apart from other educational EHRs](#what-is-edehr)
* [How EdEHR Compass supports your entire adoption journey, from strategy to curriculum to IT](#edehr-compass)
* [A comparison of EdEHR with commercial solutions](#why-choose-edehr-over-commercial-academic-ehrs)
* [Key project milestones and next steps for different user groups](#project-milestones-quick-view)

Use the links in each section to jump to what matters most for your role or interest.

***

### Why EHR Training Matters

Modern healthcare now runs on electronic health records (EHRs). Graduates who can navigate, chart, and reason with EHR data:

* **Protect patient safety** through accurate, privacy‑compliant documentation.
* **Add immediate value** on clinical placements instead of learning basic clicks on site.
* **Meet employer expectations**—EHR proficiency is often a hiring requirement.

Without a classroom EHR, students still learn ​paper charting—a skill they will never use professionally—and lose precious clinical time relearning on a live system.

***

### What EdEHR?

EdEHR is an open‑source, Canadian‑built educational EHR designed *for learning first*.

| Core Feature                    | Detail                                                                                                        |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Purpose‑built for education** | Cases, workflows, and analytics focus on learning outcomes, not billing.                                      |
| **Interprofessional**           | Supports nursing, med‑lab, allied health, and more—ideal for team‑based scenarios.                            |
| **Highly customizable**         | Instructors can tailor forms, cases, and vocabularies to local curricula.                                     |
| **Open source**                 | Code lives on GitHub; institutions avoid vendor lock‑in.                                                      |
| **SaaS delivery**               | Hosted by EdEHR Technologies Inc. on a per‑active‑student‑seat model and integrates with existing LMS logins. |

***

### EdEHR Compass

**EdEHR Compass** is the open‑source knowledge hub that walks post‑secondary institutions (PSIs) through the entire adoption journey:

<table><thead><tr><th width="301">Stage</th><th>What Compass Provides</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Strategic planning</strong></td><td>Licensing guidance, sustainability templates, commercialization insights.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Technical setup</strong></td><td>Interactive install &#x26; configuration tutorials.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Curriculum integration</strong></td><td>Playbooks, sample cases, and faculty workshops.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Resource &#x26; change management</strong></td><td>Budget worksheets, staffing guides, partner‑engagement checklists.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Compliance &#x26; quality</strong></td><td>Privacy frameworks, evaluation rubrics, continuous‑improvement loops.</td></tr></tbody></table>

Primary users: academic decision‑makers, IT teams, faculty, curriculum designers, and support staff.

***

### Why Choose EdEHR Over Commercial Academic EHRs?

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="249"></th><th></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td><strong>EdEHR</strong></td><td>Typical Vendor Solutions (Cerner Academic, SimChart, etc.)</td></tr><tr><td>Open source</td><td>✅</td><td>❌</td></tr><tr><td>Canadian‑based hosting &#x26; data residency</td><td>✅</td><td>❌ / varies</td></tr><tr><td>Built for interprofessional education</td><td>✅</td><td>Some</td></tr><tr><td>Instructor‑level customization</td><td>✅</td><td>Limited / fee‑based</td></tr><tr><td>Pricing transparency</td><td>Per‑seat SaaS + optional dev funding</td><td>Licensing + addon costs</td></tr><tr><td>Ownership of custom cases</td><td>Institution owns</td><td>Often vendor‑owned</td></tr></tbody></table>

For more information explore [EdEHR vs other EHR Systems](/edehr-compass/overview/edehr-vs-other-ehr-systems.md)

***

### Project History & Milestones

* **2014–2017**  BCIT faculty create open‑textbook *Health Case Studies* ➜ concept for an open EHR.
* **2018–2019**  BCcampus grant funds pilot‑ready prototype + sustainability plan.
* **2021**  Statement of Work with BCIT Med Lab Science; external hosting chosen (MemSharp → EdEHR.org).
* **2022**  First pilot replaces Slide Review Project; blood‑analysis forms + 10 case studies launch.
* **2023–2024**  Hematology expansion (Med Lab) and full nursing (BSN) pilot; platform optimized for patient‑care workflows.
* **2025**  Goal: all BC clinical sites using EHR; EdEHR used across School of Health Sciences umbrella programs.

***

#### Next Steps

* **Administrators:** Visit the [*Strategic Planning*](/edehr-compass/planning-and-governance/strategic-planning/assessing-institutional-readiness.md) track in EdEHR Compass.
* **Faculty & Designers:** Explore [*Educational Integration*](https://edehr.gitbook.io/edehr-compass/educational-implementation/) playbooks and sample cases.
* **IT Teams:** Follow the *Technical Setup* walk‑through for a sandbox deployment.

> Need help? Contact <support@edehr.org> or join the EdEHR Slack community.


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