What does PHR mean in HEALTHCARE

A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic record of a person's personal health information, which includes medical history, medications, allergies, immunization dates, lab results and other important health facts. A PHR provides patients with secure access to their medical information at any time, allowing them to view or modify it as needed. By having this convenient online access to their medical information, individuals can become more active in managing their own health care and making informed decisions about it.

Anyone who has used health care services or plans to in the future can benefit from using a PHR. It is ideal for individuals with chronic conditions and those who need to keep track of multiple medications as well as allergies and health histories for themselves or family members.

Security is paramount when storing PHI in a PHR. The system should have passwords that meet stringent criteria as well as multiple layers of authentication including biometrics if desired. Additionally, all data should be encrypted and regularly backed up on secure servers located offsite from the user’s computer(s).

A patient typically manages his/her own Personal Health Record by authorizing providers such as doctors or hospitals to upload records into it. Access rights may also be granted for family members or guardians if needed. In most cases, the individual maintains control over what pieces of information they are sharing with healthcare providers and who else has access to their record.

Your Personal Health Record should include any pertinent medical information about yourself or family members including but not limited to medications taken regularly, immunization dates, test results (i.e., lab work and blood work), medical history and condition notes from your doctor along with contact details for any specialists you might visit regularly (i.e., allergists).

Yes! Documents other than electronic records such as paper copies of X-rays or MRI scans as well as paper prescriptions can easily be scanned into your PHR for easy access later when needed either by you or your healthcare provider(s).

As with all types of electronically stored health related data, some privacy concerns exist when creating and maintaining a PHR; however if security protocols are properly followed then these risks are greatly minimized providing users peace of mind that their data remains safe from unwarranted access by third parties.

There are several reputable cloud-based platforms available that offer secure storage solutions for personal health records including but not limited to EHR4U cloud platform developed by Microsoft; iHealth Vault platform designed specifically for mobile devices; Accellion suite also offering enhanced mobility capabilities amongst its features; ShareScape Secure Exchange Suite developed specifically for healthcare providers; and Epic Hyperspace Cloud Services hosting services tailored towards large scale enterprises.