EHR and PHR FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and Personal Health Records (PHRs)
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Electronic health records (EHRs) and personal health records (PHRs) are digital collections of health information. EHRs and PHRs can be shared between patients, providers, insurers and employers to enable efficient, high-quality health care and eliminate unnecessary medical errors.
PHRs may include medical history, medications, allergies, test results, scans, X-Rays, personal stats, insurance information and more. Providers commonly use EHRs as they make evidence-based health care decisions while prioritizing patient safety, comfort and satisfaction.
Both can be used to ensure high-quality health care treatment and prevent medical errors by giving providers personalized, up-to-date and detailed health data about their patients.
With world medical travel on the rise, PHRs are growing in popularity as they help bridge geographical gaps between patients and providers. Whether a patient is seeking health care in their hometown, in a neighboring state or in another country, PHRs ensure that the provider has a full understanding of a patient’s medical history and can provide top-notch medical care.
Additionally, by automating the flow of health records via health care IT, providers can reduce administration costs and data processing time. As a result, some of these time- and money-savings can be passed down to the patient.
The
top advantages of EHRs and PHRs include:
- Streamlined, expedited medical treatment made possible through efficient health care IT
- Reduced health care costs due to lower administration costs and data processing time
- Reduced medical errors and other health care disparities, particularly with medical travel and cross-border patients
- Improved patient engagement through personalized health records
- Proactive health care through enhanced wellness engagement
These are just a few of the ways that patients benefit from using EHRs.
While EHRs can improve the overall quality and efficiency of health care, patients may have concerns regarding privacy. According to a 2010 report by CDW® Healthcare, nearly half of the public worries that the introduction of EHRs could endanger the security of their personal health information.
Common Concerns Patients Have About EHR and PHR Security:
- If EHRs are leaked, personal information be used for blackmail or identify theft
- Employers could use PHRs to make hiring, advancement and compensation decisions
- EHR information could be utilized for marketing research
This is why it's important to use a HIPAA-compliant company with strict firewall protections when storing and sharing EHRs. In the event that a data breach occurs, businesses can be fined significantly thanks to the HITECH Act of 2009.
Health Options Worldwide (HOW) bridges the geographical gap between patients and providers through our secure, online patient information center, which allows patients to safely store and easily share personal electronic health records with providers anywhere, anytime. With HOW, patients can rest assured that their personal health records are used in their best interest, to help them receive personalized health care.
HOW offers a secure, firewall-protected and HIPAA-compliant environment for members. This means that:
- Your health information can only be disclosed with your consent
- Only you can modify your patient information
- Your patient information can only be submitted over a secure, encrypted connection
By protecting your patient information, HOW ensures that your personal information is only used to help you obtain top-notch, personalized health care.
This is just another way in which HOW brings patients and providers closer together, preserving the relationship between the doctor and the patient, whether you’re booking your initial treatment or follow-up care.
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