Abstract
Personal health records (PHRs) allow individuals to conveniently access information about their medical histories, medications, allergies, and procedures. These records are offered in a number of formats by a variety of vendors. PHRs may be maintained solely by individuals or by entities such as health care providers and insurance companies. With the advent of “meaningful use criteria,” PHRs are becoming more common and are more likely to be tethered to providers’ electronic health records. This column will offer selected examples of different types of PHRs, as well as list a few web sites that provide general information about personal health records.
Notes
Comments and suggestions should be sent to the Column Editors: Priscilla L. Stephenson ([email protected]) and Mary Virginia Taylor ([email protected]).