We encourage you to begin tracking your health information in whatever format works best for you, even if the choice is paper. However, if you plan to share information in your PHR with various healthcare providers, we recommend using digital media or a software format. It will be easier to format your information quickly, accurately and securely regardless of which or how many healthcare providers need to access it.
PHR information should always be stored in a secure manner just as you would store other confidential personal information such as financial information. Our health information experts discuss the benefits and risks involved in selecting the appropriate PHR.
Once you’ve gathered your health information, there are a few different ways you can maintain your PHR:
You can create your own PHR, or may be offered one by a variety of sources, such as:
Some of these tools are free, and for others you may have to pay a fee or subscription. Each supplier has different policies and practices for using the data they store for the individual. There are some important questions to consider when placing your health information online, so review 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:
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).
Your doctor may use electronic health records, and offer a Web portal or patient gateway that allows you to view and track some of your health information via the Internet. You may also be able to e-mail your doctor, schedule appointments, or get a prescription refilled through the Internet. This is a great start to giving you access to your information, but it is not your complete personal health record. You’ll still need to be proactive to collect the information you need.
A wide range of products are currently available to help you create your own personal health record (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.
AHIMA does not sell or endorse any PHR products, but we’ve compiled a list of PHR tools and resources for your review. You’ll need to research your PHR options and decide which method is best for you.
Once you’ve gathered the information you’re seeking, there are a few different ways you can maintain your PHR:
Some of these tools are free, and for others you may have to pay a fee or subscription.