By creating a PHR, you take control of your overall health and help ensure that you and your family get the most appropriate, individualized care possible. With a PHR, you’re better prepared to make important decisions about your health and your family’s health because your health records are maintained in a secure environment. The better you understand the full picture of your health, the more empowered you will be to partner with your healthcare provider in determining your best treatment options. It’s your life, you should play a big part in determining how you are medically treated.
The great thing about a PHR is that your health information is safely maintained and readily available no matter where you are or what your circumstances. If a health issues arises when you are traveling, you can access your PHR online while out-of-state or out of the country, or keep it with you on a portable disk drive. During catastrophic events such as natural disasters, a personal health record ensures that your health information will not be lost and can be obtained by your healthcare provider and pharmacists.
From something as significant as a natural disaster to having to change healthcare providers because you’ve moved, PHRs can help you provide an accurate history of your health to new healthcare providers. The PHR can reduce or eliminate the need to undergo the same medical tests and procedures at different healthcare offices. This saves valuable time you and your healthcare professional and can reduce healthcare costs.
What Should my PHR contain?
Benefits of a PHR
