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Personal Health Record
Personal Health Record (PHR) is a system that stores patients health data and other information and is accessible online to the patient. Data maintained in the system is by physicians and administered by hospitals.

PHR Background
The first appearance of PHR in an academic journal was in Germany in 1969 - 'personal record linkage' in Methods of Information in Medicine Supplement among the categories of 'computers, humans, medical history taking, medical record linkage, medical records, and research'. (Healthc Inform Res. 2011 Mar; 17(1): 3–17).

Information stored in PHR
The PHR includes information that helps the patient and their physician manage their health, such as:


 * Doctor name, address and phone number
 * Allergies
 * Medications and dosages
 * List of dates of surgeries and illness
 * Health Problems
 * Family History
 * Immunization History
 * upcoming Appointments
 * Pharmacy Information
 * Communication With Physician

PHR, EHR and Patient Portals
PHR is not the same as EHR, which is also known as EMR Electronic Medical Record. In other words, EHR are used by health care providers to store extensive data from their patient and PHR is used beyond physician's office mainly controlled by the patient. Patient portal is tied to an EHR and uses a secure username and password to retrieve health information.

You can access health information anywhere once you have internet connection on a mobile phone using a health app. The mobile health app is so efficient in accessing your health information because it does not consume much time, and the passcode on the phone and login information makes your information and privacy secured.

Benefits of PHR
Usually, health records were kept in folders in filing cabinets and now having health records stored digitally is efficient. Having to access personal health information immediately when needed is much easier now. When in an emergency you or your family member can access your information and give the first responder the information needed regarding your health instead of telling them you don't remember, or you don't know.


 * Track and assess your health: make you stay alert and monitor anything that was abnormal on your lab results.
 * Track appointments: You stay organized and up to date with any tests, or vaccines needed to be completed.
 * Communication: Sometimes when you call the doctor office the physician is not available, but through the app you are able to request refill on prescriptions and directly send a message, which is much easier and faster.

Types of PHRs

 * Standalone/Web-based PHR: Patients fill in their own medical information from their health records which is time consuming. This information is stored on their computer or internet.
 * Incorporated/tethered PHR: Communicates with a healthcare organization EHR. This system allows for communication of sharing data with different physicians, and it provides contact information for each party. This benefits the patient and physicians because all the data is secured in one location and can be accessed easily by everybody who is authorized to view the information.

Privacy and Security
A Markle Foundation (2008) survey of 1,580 adults reported privacy concerns related to misuse of personal data by marketers (77%), employers (56%) and insurers (53%). The main areas of concern were identity theft and limitation of employment opportunities due to chronic conditions.