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Tip: The ABCs of establishing a PHR

EHR Connection, November 26, 2007

Although the number of people using electronic PHRs remains small, many individuals want the ability to e-mail their physicians, store immunization records, transfer information to a specialist, review test results, and track medication use electronically.

Organizations that want to join the growing list of provider-supported PHRs should follow these general principles:

• Assign responsibility for the PHR to a specific individual within your organization to ensure that it remains up-to-date.
• Begin with a firm set of goals and expectations that clearly state what you want the PHR to do-for the provider, the individual, and anyone else involved.
• Create policies that clearly state what the PHR will contain, who may contribute data, how it will be stored and by whom, and who may access the data.
• Determine how the PHR will present data. Providers who have EHR with PHR components can use the EHR as a template, but will still want to review how their patients will see information in the PHR.
• Encourage participation. A PHR can be a gateway to medical records, appointments, co-pay balances, and more.
• Formalize a set of expectations for who may use the data, when they may do so, and how the data will work. Account for data standards and technical connectivity if both providers and health plans will contribute data to the PHR.

This tip is brought to you by the November issue of Medical Records Briefing.

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