Every patient wants to receive the best medical care possible and make the most informed decisions. But too many fail to do so because they are unable to communicate all of the relevant information regarding their medical history.
With medical records residing in multiple institutions, people often don’t remember the details of their health history, especially in an emergency, and may overlook information that could prove critical to their care.
Creating a personal health record (PHR) can remedy that problem and allow patients to receive better care. A PHR documents all of the information about a person’s health, providing a detailed look at that person’s medical history, even if care was received across a number of medical institutions.
“With today’s technology, individuals can manage and take personal responsibility for their health care decisions,” says Marty Hauser, president of SummaCare, Inc. “A PHR creates a convenient, centralized tool, which can be continuously updated to create a complete picture of an individual’s critical health care information. This info, when shared by the individual, can be an invaluable resource not only for the individual, but also for caregivers and/or family members.”
Smart Business spoke with Hauser about how PHRs can result in better care for patients and how employers can encourage employees to create their own PHRs.
What information should be in a PHR?
Anything that is relevant to a person’s health should be included in a PHR. It should contain basic information such as your birth date, height and weight, emergency contact information and insurance information.
All medical conditions should be recorded in your PHR, along with the dates, treatment and the outcome. Any birth defects or mental health problems should also be noted, as should racial and ethnic background, immunization records, allergy information, any surgeries complete with dates and outcomes, and the names and contact information of any doctors whose care you are under.
X-rays, tests and lab reports should also be included, both for purposes of future comparison and to avoid the time and expense of repeating tests that have already been done.
How can having a PHR help create better health care for patients?
Most people have their health information stored across various locations, from their primary care doctor’s office to the offices of specialists and mental health professionals to anywhere they’ve been hospitalized.
Having information in multiple locations makes it difficult and time-consuming to access those records, especially when an office is closed or when those records are on paper, which can prove especially dangerous in an emergency situation when seconds can count. Because PHRs are electronically stored, they can be accessed 24 hours a day, providing a complete record of a patient’s health information in a single, secure location.
Since records can be updated by both patients and their physicians, a PHR gives health care providers a more detailed and accurate picture of the patient’s health history than he or she may be able to provide through simple recollection, or, in case of an emergency, in a situation in which the patient is unresponsive. Having all of the information in one place cuts down on the possibility of errors, saves money on unnecessary tests and gives physicians immediate access to information that may be critical to providing proper patient care.
A PHR also creates a greater investment for patients in their own health care, allowing them to take an active role in maintaining wellness and treating illnesses. With more knowledge and understanding, people are more likely to take actions to protect and improve their health. Individuals can knowledgeably discuss their health with their doctors, ask questions, make informed decisions about their health and provide accurate information to new health care providers.
