What is a PHR?
How well do you really know your health history?
Have you ever moved or changed doctors?
Do you know what your cholesterol or blood pressure trend has been over the last few years?
If someone asked when your last immunization was, would you know?
When you travel, do you ever worry that you will need your medical information in an emergency?
If you're thinking "I need to get my health records together", how would you do it?
Personal Health Records (PHR) are simply a way to gather, review and conveniently share your health information. The power of a PHR is that you have control over your own health records regardless of who provided the service, where or when it was provided. If your PHR is done correctly, it can help to reduce medical costs, improve health care, find gaps and note errors in your records, save time in filling out forms at the doctor's office and help you gain a better understanding of your own health. PHR's can also be maintained for the whole family or other people such as elderly parents. This does not replace the files that your medical caregivers have, but it creates an opportunity to maintain your own set of records that you can review after you leave the doctor's office. A SHAPE PHR™ makes this process even simpler by enabling your doctor to fax or scan your records right into your SHAPE PHR on your behalf helping to keep your PHR up-to-date.
A PHR typically includes the following items:
- Patient demographics
- Emergency contacts
- Recent exam and test results
- Current and past medications and drugs
- Current and past illnesses and conditions
- Allergies
- Family history
- Social history
- Legal documents and forms relating to healthcare.
