Each physician or healthcare provider must have a legal document of the services provided to each patient or client. These medical records have traditionally been created and stored in paper charts. In our fractured healthcare system, a patient's record is then kept in different places under the responsibility of different people. Thus the descriptive term of medical records being kept in 'silos'. These records are scattered among the primary care physician, specialists, labs, pharmacies, radiology imaging centers and even family members.
Over the past few years, the medical community has recognized the benefits and also the challenges of keeping a patient's healthcare record comprehensive and available. Several weaknesses of paper-based medical records have been identified, such as illegible handwriting, ambiguous and incomplete data, data fragmentation, and poor availability. In addition, paper records often become bulky with time, which leads to lack of overview. Because paper records still represent the usual medium for collecting and recording patient data, these weaknesses could impede the continuity and quality of medical care.
Despite the information age of computers in other industries, the healthcare industry still lags behind in converting paper medical records to electronic medical records. Only 15% of the physicians, and even less percentage of hospitals, have their complete and comprehensive medical records computerized. Even if all of the doctors and hospitals are computerized, one of the big challenges is the sharing of this information electronically.
Technological standards are being created but there are still some major obstacles to overcome in the physician and hospital environment in order to provide seamless electronic sharing of records for the patient. Thus the electronic Personal Health Record has emerged!
Using a PHR can help you to be an active partner in personal health and wellness management for yourself and your loved ones. Your PHR will actually help facilitate better communication between you and your providers - especially in the event of an emergency room visit. Recording, managing and storing your health information will help you minimize paperwork, provide better and more accurate information to all of your providers, reduce or eliminate medical errors, reduce duplicate procedures or processes, and best of all, give you peace of mind!