Choose a PHR
Individuals can create their own PHR, or may be offered one by a variety of sources, such as a healthcare provider, insurer, employer or a commercial supplier of PHRs. Each supplier has different policies and practices regarding how they may use data they store for the individual. Study the policies and procedures carefully to 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.
If the PHR contains the same information that the doctor has seen, it has more usefulness for tracking purposes than information from insurance forms. For example, insurance claims information may list the diagnosis or medication but not the details (for example, actual blood pressure reading or dose of the medication taken).
A wide range of products are currently available to help you create your own personal health record (PHR). Take an active role in monitoring your health and healthcare by creating your own PHR. PHRs are an inevitable and critical step in the evolution of health information management (HIM). The book, “Personal Health Record” assists new users of PHRs in getting started, addressing current PHR trends and processes. You should consider some important questions about having your health information online before selecting a tool that’s right for you.
Please note that the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) does not sell or endorse any of the PHR products listed here. It is important to be aware that PHRs that are not part of a provider’s electronic health record are not considered to be legal records, and therefore, are not protected by the same privacy and security protections that covered entities are.
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