Question

Discuss the personal health record, content, advantages, uses. Do you use a personal health record? Would you promote others to use a personal health record?

Answer 1

The online tool which grants the people to access, view and operate their personal health information and promote self management and co ordination of care through internet is called a Personal health record (PHR).

The tools in the personal health record allow the person to actively participate in his or her health care. PHR incorporates personal data, the different care provider’s data, and the whole health record of the patient in one access.

CONTENT:

• Data for personal identification
• Emergency contact numbers, names and address
• Contact number of health care providers, specialists, dentist etc
• Information on the health insurance
• Data on power of attorney
• Data on authorization of organ donation if any
• Present medications used with dosage
• History of illness, treatment, surgery etc with date
• Data on immunization
• History of any allergies
• Latest physical exam reports
• Results of lab studies , dental records etc
• Family health history
• Specialist opinions or consultation details
• Letters/ phone call details/ correspondence with physicians.

ADVANTAGES:

PHR is advantageous to the patient as it provides the whole health data of the client in a single click. The main advantages of PHR are:

• Involve the patient on own health care activities. Self care happens outside a health care agency and when the patient has access to own health status digitally, he can better take steps in improving it.
• The information and health reports from different health care providers are compiled to one record, which leads to better care co ordination.
• The health data is available in emergency, even when the patient is travelling or approaching a different health care provider.
• Improve the communication between the client and health care provider.

USES:

• The PHR allows the client to get more connected to their health information.
• Promote involvement of patient in his health care and promote the communication between the client and health care provider.
• Provide a secure platform to access, manage and share own health data.
• The patient or the client will be more involved in own health care, that the responsibility is better handled by the client.
• Improve the communication between client and physicians or health care providers.
• The cost of health care can be reduced, as most of the information can be gained in one click, can be shared and managed easily.
• Improve the total health of the family, by tracking the health status of each members of the family and can provide appropriate care to the high risk clients in the family.

We are not using a personal health record, but discussing the uses and advantages it is very beneficial to the public.

So I promote the use of personal health records. It share the health care to be a more responsibility of the client than the state, promoting the client interest in own health.