What are Personal Health Records (PHRs)?
First, it’s important to understand what an electronic
health record (EHR) is. An electronic health record is a compilation of medical
information gathered by numerous clinicians so that they can work together to
best care for the patient. A personal health record is an electronic tool that
give patients access to EHRs and the ability to manage their own health and the
healthcare they receive.
They provide record of an individual’s diagnosis, prescribed
medications, known allergies, lab results, immunizations, the ability to access
previous vital signs, and any other relevant health information. PHRs often
provide links that make life more convenient for the patient such as; a way to
request an appointment or prescription refills. Keeping a PHR can assist you
with preventative care, better manage your illness or disease, and fill you
with a sense of power.
What is a Patient Portal?
A patient portal provides electronic access to one’s PHR by
being connected through an electronic health record system. Patient portals are
offered though healthcare providers, the company associated with them, or
insurance plans. Accessing your patient portal online can help answer your
questions more quickly. A feature that is greatly valued among patients is the
ability to correspond with healthcare providers according to their individual
schedules. Contacting members of a healthcare team through a patient portal is thought
of as more convenient than calling them and holding until your turn comes. You
can stay better involved with your healthcare journey by utilizing your patient
portal.
Is it hard to maintain personal privacy?
PHRs and patient portals are designed with privacy in mine. Electronic
health records are guided by HIPPA standards; which ensure confidentiality and
integrity. There are laws intact to ensure providers have adequate security
measures that protect health information. There are also regulations in place
for who can access health information. To help in preserving your own privacy
and security, you should make sure you access your PHR through a secure online network.
When designing a password for your patient portal, make it different than your
other passwords used for less important sites and make them strong so they
can’t be guessed. It would be wise to keep your access information un-shared.
PHR Examples:
Detmer, D., Bloomrosen, M., Raymond,
B., & Tang, P. (2008). Integrated personal health records: Transformative
tools for consumer-centric care. BMC Medical Informatics and Decision
Making, 8(1), 45-45. doi:10.1186/1472-6947-8-45
Farhadi, M., Haddad, H., &
Shahriar, H. (2018). Static analysis of HIPPA security requirements in electronic
health record applications. 2 474-479.
doi:10.1109/COMPSAC.2018.10279
Tulu, B., PhD, Trudel, J., MD, Strong,
D. M., PhD, Johnson, S. A., PhD, Sundaresan, D., MS, & Garber, L., MD.
(2016). Patient portals. Chest, 149(1), 272-277.
doi:10.1378/chest.14-2559
