Forget Filing -- Personal Health Records Can Organize Your Medical Information

hen most Americans access their personal medical information, they need to go through a filing cabinet at home and try to find the folder somewhere in between last year’s tax returns and old bank statements. Even if you are incredibly organized, this system has some flaws. You may know every single detail in that folder, but would the rest of your family know what is in there (or even where the folder is)? And who wants to bring an entire folder to every doctor visit? Finally, what happens if you need that information in an emergency?

One relatively new solution to this problem is the Personal Health Record (PHR), an online resource which contains information such as insurance claims, doctors’ visits and prescribed medications. PHRs are frequently offered through an individual’s health insurer and are maintained on a secure, password-protected Internet site. According to Charles Cutler, M.D., a national medical director with Aetna, PHRs can help individuals take a more active role in managing their health care.

“One of the most important things a patient can do is to keep an updated, accessible, and accurate record of their essential health information,” Cutler says. “Using a PHR can help simplify this process.”

There are several other advantages to using a PHR, including:

1. Improving the doctor/patient relationship -- Even though a PHR is maintained online, individuals can print up a copy to share with their doctor at any time. Having detailed, easy-to-understand patient information can make a visit to the doctor much more productive.

“It’s great to have organized information in front of you when a patient first comes in, especially when that information includes medications and tests done by other physicians” Cutler says. “It can also engage the patient in the details and self management of their condition in new and supportive ways.”

Some advanced PHRs can also analyze the information that is entered into a PHR, comparing it to recent medical literature and alerting both the patient and the doctor of any possible issues with treatment or opportunities to improve care.

2. In case of emergency, use your PHR -- In many emergencies -- whether it is a car accident that leads to the emergency room, a high fever while you are on vacation or a natural disaster that uproots you and your family -- your first concern is likely the health of the people closest to you. While you might have a wallet or personal identification, you probably won’t have access to medical information such as prescription medications or allergies -- details that could be crucial, and even life-saving, to the care you receive.

With a PHR, this information is accessible with any Internet connection. Having your health records readily available online can impact the quality of care you receive when you’re far away from home or experiencing an emergency.

3. More Information Leads to Better Care -- In addition to the data a health insurer would have, such as insurance claims, doctors’ visits and prescriptions, many PHRs allow individuals to enter in additional information. This can include family health history, over-the-counter medications and even current diet or exercise programs.

Knowing this type of personal information is incredibly helpful for doctors, and adding this type of information can also further enhance an advanced PHR’s ability to analyze a patient’s information against medical literature.

Despite all of these positive features, PHRs are still significantly underutilized. Even though the trade organization America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) estimates that 70 million people have access to PHRs, a recent survey of over 2,100 adults conducted by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association found that 64 percent do not know or are unsure about what a PHR is.

“Personal Health Records are still a relatively new idea, so it’s not that surprising that people are somewhat unaware of them,” Cutler says. “However, with all of these benefits, individuals should really take the initiative and find out from their insurer if they have access to a PHR.”

One resource where consumers can learn more about Personal Health Records that Cutler recommends is www.planforyourhealth.com, a Web site that provides valuable health benefits information. This site recently added a section that describes what Personal Health Records are, how to maximize and personalize your PHR, as well as the top five reasons consumers should use a PHR.