A hybrid health record is a patient health record that includes both paper and electronic documents, and uses both manual and electronic processes to access patient information. For example, dictation, lab, and x-ray results might be available electronically, whereas progress notes, provider information, and doctors' orders remain on paper. Other health information may be maintained on various other media types such as film, video, or an imaging system.

Managing health information in a hybrid environment poses much greater risks to the completeness and accuracy of a patient’s medical record given the multiple media and access paths for information. Additionally, hybrid records are expensive for healthcare providers because the do not realize the financial benefits of a fully electronic system nor their investment in software and applications that support EMR.