Emojis in electronic health records could be confusing
News briefs
- Reviewed by Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Emojis such as the smiley face and the thumbs-up gesture are common in texts and social media posts. These and other tiny digital images are now beginning to appear in patients' electronic medical records, according to a new report.
An analysis of more than 218 million records found 372 emojis in 4,162 records between 2020 and 2025. Most appeared in brief messages sent from the clinical team to patients through online portals, including notes for older adults ages 70 to 79. The smiling face with smiling eyes was the most-used emoji, followed by a telephone receiver and a calendar. But the 50 most common emojis also included a maple leaf, a flame, and a police car light.
While rare, the use of emojis creates the potential for miscommunication, according to the study authors, whose findings were published Jan. 2, 2026, in JAMA Network Open. If you're unsure about the meaning of any message you receive from your doctor's office (whether or not it includes an emoji), ask for clarification.
Image: © porcorex/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Robert H. Shmerling, MD, Senior Faculty Editor, Harvard Health Publishing; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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