Personal Health Record
HIMSS defines an ePHR as follows:
An electronic Personal Health Record (“ePHR”) is a universally accessible, layperson comprehensible, lifelong tool for managing relevant health information, promoting health maintenance and assisting with chronic disease management via an interactive, common data set of electronic health information and e-health tools. The ePHR is owned, managed, and shared by the individual or his or her legal proxy(s) and must be secure to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the health information it contains. It is not a legal record unless so defined and is subject to various legal limitations.
HIMSS’ definition is meant to address the immediate and future developmental direction of ePHRs, with the understanding that any ePHR definition is not static and will evolve with future technology advances and further adoption of electronic health records (EHRs)/electronic medical records (EMRs) and ePHRs that will create shifts in the culture surrounding the utilization and demand of ePHR constituents.
Read the complete PHR Definition Position Statement
Latest News:
Indsutry Experts Warn Consumers Not Embracing PHRs Yet
Despite the growing use of the Internet, consumers are not embracing the consumer-directed electronic personal health record (PHR), according to industry experts quoted in a Feb. 2 iHealthBeat article. Revolution Health, a health company started by AOL co-founder Steve Case, implemented an online personal health record in 2007 and will shut it down at the end of February, according to iHealthBeat.
Revolution Health To Terminate PHRs; Everyday Health Files IPO
On January 27, Revolution Health sent e-mails alerting users that it would discontinue its personal health record service at the end of February, Healthcare IT News reports.
Personal Health Records Symposium at HIMSS Annual Conference
New this year, the PHR symposium, which will take place on February 28, 2010, will take a real-world look at best
practices and lessons learned from a wide-range of perspectives - from
small and large practices to a payer organization. In addition, explore
PHR's big picture impact with a special focus on standards, policy and
meaningful use requirements.