What is a personal health record?
The Basics
A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. PHRs:
- Are managed by patients
- Can include information from a variety of sources, including health care providers and patients themselves
- Can help patients securely and confidentially store and monitor health information, such as diet plans or data from home monitoring systems, as well as patient contact information, diagnosis lists, medication lists, allergy lists, immunization histories, and much more
- Are separate from, and do not replace, the legal record of any health care provider
- Are distinct from portals that simply allow patients to view provider information or communicate with providers
Properly designed and implemented, PHRs can help patients manage their health information and become full partners in the quest for good health.
Personal Health Record Definitions
PHRs can be defined in many ways. For more PHR definitions, see the following resources.
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Personal Health Records (PHRs)
- American Health Information Management Association: Personal Health Records
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society: PHRs and Patient Portals
For More Information
For more information on PHRs, see the following resources.
Health IT and Electronic Health Records (EHRs)
Health IT is shorthand for "health information technology." Health IT is the use of computer hardware and software to store, retrieve, and share patient health and medical information.
A patient portal is an internet application that allows patients to access their electronic health records and communicate with their healthcare providers. In some contexts, these may be referred to...
An electronic health record (EHR) is more than just a computerized version of your paper chart. It’s a digital record that can provide your health care team with comprehensive health information...
An electronic health record (EHR) contains patient health information, such as:
Medical history
Diagnoses
Medications
Immunization dates
Allergies
Radiology images
Lab and test results
The Basics
A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. PHRs:...
Personal Health Records: Improving Health Care Quality
Personal health records (PHRs) can help your patients better manage their care. Having important health information – such as immunization...
The Basics
Yes, there are two main kinds of personal health records (PHRs).
Standalone Personal Health Records: With a standalone PHR, patients fill in information from their own records, and the...
Health IT is shorthand for "health information technology." Health IT is the use of computer hardware and software to store, retrieve, and share patient health and medical information.
A patient portal is an internet application that allows patients to access their electronic health records and communicate with their healthcare providers. In some contexts, these may be referred to...
An electronic health record (EHR) is more than just a computerized version of your paper chart. It’s a digital record that can provide your health care team with comprehensive health information...
An electronic health record (EHR) contains patient health information, such as:
Medical history
Diagnoses
Medications
Immunization dates
Allergies
Radiology images
Lab and test results
The Basics
A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. PHRs:...
Personal Health Records: Improving Health Care Quality
Personal health records (PHRs) can help your patients better manage their care. Having important health information – such as immunization...
The Basics
Yes, there are two main kinds of personal health records (PHRs).
Standalone Personal Health Records: With a standalone PHR, patients fill in information from their own records, and the...