A personal health record (PHR) is a collection of important information about your health or the health of someone you’re caring for, such as a parent or a child, that you actively maintain and update.

When collecting information from your health records, be sure to include:

• Personal identification, including name and birth date
• People to contact in case of emergency
• Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your physician, dentist, and specialists
• Health insurance information
• Living wills, advance directives, or medical power of attorney
• Organ donor authorization
• A list and dates of significant illnesses and surgical procedures
• Current medications and dosages
• Immunizations and their dates
• Allergies or sensitivities to drugs or materials, such as latex
• Important events, dates, and hereditary conditions in your family history
• Results from a recent physical examination
• Opinions of specialists
• Important tests results; eye and dental records
• Correspondence between you and your provider(s)
• Current educational materials (or appropriate web links) relating to your health
• Any information you want to include about your health – such as your exercise regimen, any herbal medications you take and any counseling you may receive.