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Maintaining patient records has never been a simple task. When you have paper records in one doctor’s office, lab results in another, and a notepad with prescription lists, it is easy to lose some key issues in your medical history. These messes can be daunting to those who have more than one doctor or have chronic conditions. It is possible to lose important information, which could be dangerous.
This is where digital tools and virtual care come in handy. It is now possible to store a person’s whole medical history in a readily accessible Personal Health Record (PHR). Your medical history, including all your visits, lab results, treatments, and preventive actions, is centralized and protected in a personal health record (PHR), which sets it apart from more traditional systems. This record is owned and kept by the patient. Let’s explore building a personal health record using virtual care, and tips to maximise its benefits.
What is a Personal Health Record (PHR)?
A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic file that contains all of your medical records. You, the patient, are in charge of this, as opposed to an EHR, which is created and maintained by healthcare professionals.
In your PHR, you might discover:
- All of the patient’s prior illnesses, surgeries, and medications are included in their medical history.
- Diagnosis and treatment plans from specialists as well as primary care physicians.
- Blood tests, X-rays, MRIs, and scans are examples of the results from laboratory testing and imaging.
- Comprehensive records of all medications taken, including prescriptions from the past and present, along with all dosages.
- Vaccines, in particular, are travelling vaccines.
- Information concerning your personal style of life, such as what you eat, what you do for exercise, how you sleep, and what you wear.
The best feature? You are not restricted to utilising a single provider’s system. Even if you move, change doctors, or see several specialists, you may still take your PHR with you.
How Virtual Care Helps Build a Personal Health Record
It is now easier than ever to create and maintain a PHR due to the introduction of virtual care. You can centrally manage and monitor your health information with wearables, healthcare platforms, and apps. You won’t need to keep paper files.
- Centralised Access to Medical Records
Nowadays, most telehealth providers have patient portals or smartphone apps that let you:
- After each appointment, you can choose to receive a summary of it.
- Get images or test results right now.
- Keep track of all electronic prescriptions and medication instructions with you at all times.
Making phone calls to request medical records is not necessary. You can see, edit, and even share your protected health information (PHR) with other medical professionals at any time.
- Tracking Symptoms, Medications, and Treatments
Regular vitals monitoring is made possible by characteristics found in most telehealth systems.
- Journals of symptoms related to chronic diseases, pain, or depression.
- Monitoring tools that let you know when it’s time to take your prescription.
- Notifying your doctor that you can control adverse effects by monitoring them.
Your PHR is dynamic as a result of these enhancements; it changes to meet your needs and shows your health status as it changes over time.
Virtual Care and Preventive Health Tracking
Telehealth can help you stay well, which is just as vital as avoiding getting sick. A properly managed PHR can be used to track:
- Immunisations and inoculations, such as the new COVID-19 vaccine or flu vaccinations.
- The tests performed during screenings include cholesterol screening, colonoscopy, and mammogram.
- Frequent (once per year) visits to check blood pressure and examine my work state wellness.
Ensure you don’t miss any crucial appointments or exams by integrating these reminders with your PHR.
Benefits of Building a Personal Health Record with Virtual Care
The development of a PHR through online medical services is very beneficial to both patients and physicians.
- Better Coordination Across Providers
By ensuring that every doctor obtains the same information, unnecessary procrastination, repeated tests, and inconsistencies in treatment can be minimised, as every doctor would have access to the PHR stored centrally. Regardless of your location, you will always receive care with telehealth, as you can share your PHR with specialists in any state or even other countries.
- Improved Health Outcomes
Your doctors will be able to do the following if your medical records are well-organised and accessible:
- Quickly identify patterns in medical conditions or test results.
- Reevaluate medication modifications in light of known adverse effects.
- Increase the precision and quickness.
For instance, it may be easy to forget that headaches can occur when a medication’s dosage is changed if records are kept in multiple locations. A PHR, however, might make this information available.
- Easier Management of Chronic Conditions
Personal health records can revolutionise the lives of people who are diabetic, asthmatic, and those with hypertension. The patients should make sure that they take their vitals every day (blood pressure, blood sugar, and inhaler use). Analysing this data enables telehealth professionals to adjust patients’ treatment plans simultaneously.
Patients receive better daily care, resulting in fewer hospitalizations and fewer problems, thanks to our data-driven strategy.
Tools for Building and Managing Your Personal Health Record
Technical knowledge is not required to create a personal health record (PHR). The abundance of helpful apps has made it easier than ever to keep track of your health information.
- Telehealth Platforms with Integrated Health Records
Many telehealth companies now have secure web portals that automatically update after each video chat. A few of these platforms might provide:
- Records of prior appointments.
- Medication and refill status.
- Test results that were sent in to be uploaded.
Examples include Amwell, MyChart, and the websites of specific hospitals.
- Health Management Apps
Standalone applications may be used if the platform provided by your supplier is insufficiently extensive. With applications such as Apple Health, the Health Vault or My Therapy, you can:
- Study to follow up your doses and medicines regularly so that you can take the right amount of medicine at the right time.
- Note down negative symptoms or reactions.
- Focus on food and exercise regimen.
Other applications will be linked directly to your provider’s system, making it easier for them to communicate updates.
- Wearables and Smart Devices
Innovative technology is crucial for maintaining good health these days. Things such as these:
- You can use an Apple Watch or a Fitbit to track your heart rate, exercise, and sleep.
- Continuous glucose monitors, worn continuously, display blood sugar levels as they occur.
- Provide information about the usage of blood pressure monitors or smart inhalers.
Compared to only seeing you in person, providers will have a more comprehensive understanding of your health due to the additional data that has been added to your PHR.
How to Use Your Personal Health Record Effectively
Proactively managing one’s health is the main objective of a personal health record (PHR), not only storing data.
Organise and Update Regularly
After every telehealth consultation:
- You should incorporate more prescription medications.
- Share any pertinent test results or medical documentation.
- If any of your symptoms or side effects change, please notify your healthcare provider.
An old record is as good as none in this regard.
- Share with Providers When Necessary
The people who use your PHR are what give it its effectiveness. Please feel free to:
- Present it to your primary care physician before your yearly physical.
- Patients should be allowed to see specialists before a consultation.
- Provide temporary access to anyone who requires it during an emergency.
Secure gateways make it simple to share this information while maintaining its security.
- Be Proactive with Health Management
You can take control of your health and achieve your objectives independently with a personal health record (PHR). Use it for:
- Keep a record of your weight loss or fitness accomplishments.
- Remember the deadlines for preventative care.
- Using the information you have, ask specific questions of the providers.
You are not just a patient receiving therapy; you are actively involved in every stage of your health journey.
Security and Privacy Considerations for Your Personal Health Record
Safeguarding the private health information of patients should be a top priority.
HIPAA Compliance
As the federal government has strict requirements for handling health data, ensure the platform you’re using conforms to HIPAA regulations. Look for these specifications:
- Utilising a safe technique to archive data.
- We use two-factor authentication to secure login.
- Entry is restricted.
- Data Ownership and Control
You are the owner of the PHR. Be wary of:
- Applications that sell or give away user information to outside parties.
- Websites that generate revenue from data sales without charging consumers.
- Excessive sharing when using insecure portals.
Only vendors and services that have access to your PHR should be trusted.
- Managing Access to Your Record
Limit access to those who actually need it. Family caregivers may be given restricted or temporary access. Ensure that health practitioners can access and delete the information.
Quick Checklist for Building Your Personal Health Record
- Select a telemedicine system that offers comprehensive record-keeping capabilities.
- Symptoms, medications, and examinations of the body and organs should be checked regularly.
- Use wearables to enter health data in real time into your record.
- Share your PHR with your primary care physician and specialists as needed.
- Follow HIPAA guidelines and implement secure access limits.
Conclusion
The PHR of a patient is more than just a file in the current, disorganised healthcare system. It’s significant. By storing your prescriptions, lab results, medical records and personal health information in a single location, you are empowered to take an active role in your own healthcare.
This process has been dramatically simplified by virtual care. Wearable devices, mobile applications, and telehealth portals enable patients to easily view, update, and share their medical records in real-time in our modern world.
A properly maintained PHR is both powerful and easy to operate. It will help your physician get to know you more thoroughly, prevent treatment errors, achieve enhanced outcomes, and integrate you more fully into your treatment care. It is possible to make your own medical record, provided you have all the information and are self-motivated.
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