Welcome

Welcome to our February 2008 online newsletter—informing you about things that are “good to know”.

Personal Health Records

Your Lifeline Online

Have you been wondering whether you need a copy of your own personal health record (PHR)? Maybe you heard PHR’s mentioned after Hurricane Katrina stranded one million people, leaving most of them with no medical health records. Dr. Neil Baum, of Tulane University, relocated to Austin, TX after the storm to treat his displaced patients. He had access to some patient records over the Internet allowing some continuity of care. Other doctors were not so lucky. As he watched his colleagues struggle to treat patients, Dr. Baum concluded, “I am convinced now more than ever that patients should have portable access to medical records.” Hopefully, you’ll never have to weather a hurricane, but you never know when you’ll need medical treatment. Keeping your own complete, updated and easily accessible health record means the right information will be available when you need it. We organize files on our pets and cars. Why not organize our personal health records too?

PHR Initiatives

On April 27, 2004, President Bush announced a plan that would promote access to personal health records for all Americans by 2014. This Executive Order encouraged advances in Health Information Technology. In June 2007, Medicare announced a pilot project that would allow beneficiaries to use personal health records. Many companies have also responded to the government call for health IT. Applied Materials, BP America, Intel, Pitney Bowes and Wal-Mart joined forces to build Dossia, providing Web-based PHR’s for their 2.5 million employees. Aetna and Blue Cross and Blue Shield are also rolling out personal health records for customers, as are third-party providers like WebMD, whose customers include Verizon, IBM, and Starbucks. And don’t forget Microsoft’s HealthVault, Google’s Google Health or AOL’s Revolution Health— all plans to support the “storage and movement” of health records.

PHR Defined

A Personal Health Record is your health “biography”—a lifelong resource of health information maintained and owned by you.

PHR’s Improve Health Care

A personal health record will allow you to record and track your own health care just as you record checks in your register. It will facilitate care in an emergency, reduce duplicate lab tests or x-rays and help prepare for appointments.

Starting a PHR

You need to request a copy of your health records from all your healthcare providers.

PHR Providers

You can create your own PHR or get one through your healthcare professional, insurer, employer or a commercial vendor.

PHR Options

There are four types: paper-based, PC based, Web-based and portable devices.

Paper-based

List your medical history, allergies, medications, test results, emergency contacts, immunizations, etc. and organize into files or binders. You can find forms online that will get you started here and here.

PC-based

You can also store health information on personal computers, typing or scanning information, using software applications.

Web-based

Information can be maintained in private online accounts by logging in with a unique user name and password. Web-based platforms do not require software other than a Web browser.

Portable Devices

Information can be downloaded to smart cards, personal digital assistants, mobile phones and memory devices that plug into personal computers in your doctor’s office.

Cost 

Prices range from free to up to $500/year. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has information on their website that will help you choose from the wide range of products currently available.

Privacy & Security 

Make sure you understand how your personal health information will be used and protected. Policies to look for include privacy and security; the ability of the individual, or those they authorize, to access their information; and control over accessibility by others. Online services should have a secure log-on capability similar to an online bank’s—look for logos from Verisign and TRUSTe to be sure your info is encrypted and secure.

ConsumerMD

The rise of the Personal Health Record is beginning to play a key role in health care delivery today. Advanced information systems, technologies and processes that enable self-care are helping us to understand our role as the primary healthcare provider for ourselves. A web-based PHR application can improve our patient experience by giving us the information we need when we want it, where we want it and how we want it.

Additional Resources

A Guide to Understanding & Managing Your Personal Health Information
The Power & Potential of Personal Health Records
The Georgetown Center on Medical Record Rights & Privacy

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