Posted: 03/26/09
Personal Health Records (PHR), which have grown in popularity in recent years, have been recognized as a great tool to save money and improve care. Not to be confused with Electronic Health Records (EHR), which are typically maintained by your doctor for real-time information at the point of care, PHRs allow you to manage your current medical status and background, including insurance claims, doctors' visits, prescribed medications, past surgeries, lab results and more. Essentially, a PHR allows you to gather information that's often scattered around various offices and files, and manage them in a password-protected online record. Having this information at your fingertips allows you to play a more active role in your health care. While it won't provide direct medical discounts, it will save time for medical providers and avoid duplicate or unnecessary tests, which saves money in the long term.
Some PHRs also allow you to input additional data such as your family medical history, immunization records, current diet and exercise regimens, and more. A PHR has been shown to:
- Make patient/doctor communication easier and more efficient while personalizing care and limiting mistakes.
- Record prescription and over the counter medications as a safeguard to limit interactions.
- Improve healthcare away from home through quick, global access to records.
Related Links
Plan For Your Health: What is a PHR?
My Medical Records.com
