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The Veterans Affairs Department, which has been a pacesetter in healthcare information technology for more than 30 years, is proving to be a role model once more. This time it is giving patients easier access to their own health information.
The New York-based Markle Foundation’s Connecting for Health program has released a policy paper co-signed by 46 organizations, including more than a dozen health IT companies, in support of the so-called “blue button” technology being developed by the VA in conjunction with the Medicare and Medicaid programs at the CMS.
The technology aims to make it easy for patients to go online and download copies of their medical records.
WASHINGTON – The convergence of personal health records and mobile communication devices may offer the right tool to engage consumers to use technology for self-care, taking cost out of the healthcare system, according to a new Deloitte Issue Brief from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.
The brief explores the potential benefits of mobile communication devices, such as cell phones, smart phones and other mobile tablet personal computers, to collect environmental and patient-entered information and transmit it via the Internet to a personal health record. Combined with actionable decision support, the combination of mobile device and PHR, which Deloitte calls “mPHR,” can analyze aggregate data to activate patient-specific output such as medication reminders, healthy habit tips and medical bill reminders.
As the date of that long-awaited overseas trip gets closer, the last thing you want is a last-minute surprise. Nothing can put a damper on your vacation like a missing document or a forgotten detail. So before you leave, make sure you’ve taken care of the following health-related concerns, too.
Health-related paperwork and identification
Be sure your vaccination certification documents are complete and that you have a personal health record on hand for each family member. Keep these documents with your passport and other identification. Also, be sure to bring along your health insurance policy information. Plus, take written prescriptions for each of your medicines. Have your doctor include the generic name on each if there is one.
PHRs have been an enormous asset to my duties as a caregiver, simplifying routine medical appointments such as medication adjustments. After all, there’s no guessing when it’s on a piece of paper.
Maintaining a personal health record (PHR) is the key to my existence today. My PHR experience started in the early 1970’s. My parents were diligent about keeping comprehensive and up-to-date files and medical records for me, due to a near medical error as a child. I was almost given the wrong medication by the physician in an emergency situation.
A friend reviewed my medical history with me, including all of my illnesses and health issues. She asked me to start at the top of my head and to go all the way to my toes, and to list anything that was wrong including explanations for any scars.
- Should my PHR include emergency contact information?
- Do universities offer PHRs to students?
- Can my parents view my PHR?
- When can healthcare providers share information from my PHR with my family without my consent?
- Where do I go if I can't find the information I need on your Web site?
- What is the training for people involved in managing my health records?
- More...