In this writing assignment, you will write a one- to two-page paper in which you describe concerns in managing a personal health record.

Personal health records – patient concern.

Manage a Personal Medical Record: The Benefits and Concerns

PHRs are electronic records of health that enable patients to manage their information and share it with family, caregivers, healthcare professionals, etc. The PHR can offer many advantages to patients. These include better care coordination, increased patient involvement, and improved health outcomes. As with any PHR, it is not without its concerns.

Patients can access health data such as lab results and medical records from anywhere they have an internet connection. PHRs allow patients to track their progress and make informed health decisions, as well as share information about themselves with their healthcare providers. PHRs improve patient safety by reducing medical errors, and avoiding duplicate tests.

Concerns about the privacy and security can prevent a patient from adopting an EHR. Patients are concerned with unauthorized access, data breaches or misuse of personal information. The burden and cost of maintaining and updating records is another concern.

Cindy’s multiple conditions, as well as the providers who manage them, could pose a major barrier in adopting an EHR. Cindy could be worried about security and confidentiality, in particular when multiple pharmacies and providers are involved. Cindy may also be concerned about the complexity and cost of adopting a Personal Health Record (PHR).

It is possible that the concerns with managing a Personal Health Record (PHR) do not outweigh its benefits. This may be true for patients such as Cindy, who have difficulty managing their multiple conditions and coordinating healthcare. In order to overcome these obstacles, health care providers and organisations can provide guidance and instruction to their patients on how to utilize a Personal Health Record, as well as the security of that information. The healthcare providers and organizations can provide resources, technical assistance, as well as guidance to patients on how to use a Personal Health Record.

Cindy can ask her doctors for help in adopting and using a Personal Health Record. They will be able to offer guidance. Online, you can find a variety of resources, including the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, which offers information and resources for using a PHR.

In terms of the number of potential points of failure in Cindy’s care, the lack of coordination among multiple providers, pharmacies, and healthcare institutions can increase the risk of medical errors and missed opportunities for preventive care. By providing all of her healthcare providers with a central, current source of information about Cindy’s health, a PHR can help to eliminate these failure points.

Conclusion: Managing a patient’s PHR has many benefits for patients. These include improved coordination of health care, increased engagement and better outcomes. Concerns about privacy, security and technical complexity can prevent adoption. Health care providers and organisations can provide guidance and resources for patients to overcome these obstacles and adopt a Personal Health Record to improve their well-being and health.

Reference:

Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. (2018). What is the personal health record (PHR)? Downloaded from https://www.healthit.gov/topic/health-it-and-health-information-exchange-basics/what-personal-health-record