| Your personal health information — do you | | | | from all your healthcare providers, including your |
| know who has it or where to find it in Dallas, | | | | general practitioner, and your eye doctor, dentist, |
| Houston or in the other Texas cities where you | | | | and any other specialists you have seen. |
| have lived? Do you have it? In most cases, a | | | | Don’t feel that you need to gather all your |
| complete record of all of your personal health | | | | health information at the same time. One way to |
| information can’t be found at any single | | | | handle your record retrieval is to ask for your |
| location or in any consistent format. Each one of | | | | recent records each time you visit a healthcare |
| your healthcare providers (family practitioner, | | | | provider. |
| allergist, OB-GYN, etc.) compiles a separate | | | | Incorporate the following steps, at your own |
| medical record on you. And often times, these | | | | pace, when creating your own personal health |
| multiple medical records can lead to an incomplete | | | | record: |
| story about your health. | | | | 1. Contact your doctors’ offices, the health |
| Keeping your own personal health record (PHR) | | | | information management (HIM) or the medical |
| provides doctors with valuable information that | | | | records staff at each facility where you have |
| can help improve the quality of care you receive. | | | | received treatment. Ask if your records are in an |
| A PHR can minimize or eliminate duplicate tests. It | | | | electronic format that you can access, or if you |
| can also help you receive faster, safer treatment | | | | need to request copies. Also, ask your physician |
| and care in an emergency. In short, with a PHR, | | | | or the HIM professional to help you determine |
| you can play a more active role in your | | | | which parts of your record you need. |
| healthcare. | | | | Furthermore, find out if your provider has his or |
| Starting a Personal Health Record | | | | her own plan for helping patients to create their |
| Your health information is scattered across many | | | | PHRs. |
| different providers and facilities. A Personal Health | | | | 2. Ask for an "authorization for the release of |
| Record is a collection of this information about | | | | information" form. Complete the form and return |
| your health or the health of someone you are | | | | it to the facility as directed. Most facilities charge |
| caring for, such as a parent or child that you | | | | for copies. The fee should only include the cost of |
| would actively maintain and update. The | | | | copying (including supplies and labor), as well as |
| information comes from your healthcare | | | | postage if you request the copy to be mailed. It |
| providers, and most importantly, from you. | | | | can take up to 60 days to receive your medical |
| Why Start a PHR? | | | | records, so ask when you can expect to receive |
| Your own PHR should provide a different | | | | the information you’ve requested. |
| perspective, showing all your health-related | | | | 3. Now that you’ve gathered your |
| information. It can include any information that | | | | information, there are a few different ways you |
| you think might affect your health, including | | | | can maintain your PHR. One way is to simply |
| information that your doctor may not have, such | | | | gather your information in a file folder. Not all |
| as your exercise routines, dietary habits, or | | | | information may be available to you in an |
| glucose levels if you are diabetic. | | | | electronic format, so an old-fashioned file folder or |
| In addition, the PHR is a critical tool that enables | | | | three-ring binder may be the easiest and most |
| you to partner with your providers. It can reduce | | | | inclusive format. You can divide the binder into |
| or eliminate duplicate procedures or processes, | | | | sections by family members. Then, within each |
| which can save healthcare dollars, as well as your | | | | family member’s section, divide information |
| time and the provider’s time. | | | | by year or illness. |
| What Should be in Your PHR? | | | | 4. There are many great digital PHR tools and |
| When collecting information from your health | | | | services to help you get organized. You can burn |
| records, make sure you include: | | | | data onto a CD. Also, portable devices, like |
| * Personal identification, including names, birth | | | | keychain USB drives that plug into most |
| dates, and social security numbers | | | | computers, will make your PHR information |
| * Emergency contacts | | | | extremely portable. There are also Internet-based |
| * Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your | | | | services where you can store and retrieve your |
| physician, dentist, and other specialists | | | | health information, including services which may be |
| * Health insurance information | | | | sponsored by your insurance company. Some |
| * Living wills and advance directives | | | | services even help collect your data from your |
| * Organ donor authorization | | | | doctors and other healthcare providers. |
| * A list and dates of significant illnesses and | | | | Some of these digital PHR tools may be available |
| surgeries | | | | free of charge and others are products or |
| * Current medications and dosages | | | | services you will need to purchase or pay a |
| * Immunizations and their dates | | | | subscription fee to use. |
| * Allergies | | | | 5. Bring your PHR to all healthcare provider visits |
| * Important events, dates, and hereditary | | | | so that you have the information with you. And |
| conditions in your family history | | | | remember to keep adding and updating it with |
| * A recent physical examination | | | | entries from providers, yourself, or your family |
| * Opinions of specialists | | | | member. |
| * Important tests results | | | | 6. Because you won’t always have your |
| * Eye and dental records | | | | PHR with you, create and carry a card that has |
| * Correspondence between you and your | | | | vital information on it—such as medications |
| provider(s) | | | | or allergies—with you at all times. |
| * Correspondence between you and your health | | | | 7. Remember, this private information is yours |
| insurance company | | | | and your family’s, so protect it and |
| * Permission forms for release of information, | | | | maintain its confidentiality. Let trusted family |
| operations, and other medical procedures | | | | members know it exists, and where it’s |
| * Any information you want to include about your | | | | being kept, but beyond that, keep it safe and |
| health – such as your exercise regimen, any | | | | protected. |
| herbal medications you take and any counseling | | | | Knowledge is power and your Personal Health |
| you may receive. | | | | Record can certainly empower you. The |
| Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a PHR | | | | information gathered gives you information you |
| Young, healthy people move, often frequently. | | | | can use when preparing for medical appointments. |
| Therefore you are likely to have health records | | | | And it gives you more intimate knowledge of |
| scattered over all over Texas and beyond. | | | | your healthcare, including giving you an active role |
| Remember the flu last year in Dallas? And the | | | | in your preventive care and care management. |
| routine exam three years ago in Houston? | | | | It’s easier to start gathering your medical |
| Keeping your own personal health record (PHR) | | | | records while you’re a young, healthy |
| provides new and existing doctors with valuable | | | | Texan compared to when you’re older and |
| information that can help improve the quality of | | | | have a more complex medical history. Start with |
| care you receive. | | | | your parents and work your way up to your |
| To start your personal health record, you will | | | | current healthcare providers. |
| need to request a copy of your health records | | | | |