The Internet might assist patients in understanding some basic health information that’s unclear to them, but there’s always the danger that they will rely on misleading websites.
As patients get their feet wet in the PHR pool, they may turn to their time-strapped physicians for some handholding. “When a patient sits face to face with their doctor, the doctor becomes the frontline educator and may need to say what resources and tools they would like to see the patient use,” Wolter says.
“How successful a practice is in helping patients adopt and use their PHR may rest on the clinician’s willingness to explain in plain language the important role patients play in improving their own healthcare,” Keenan says. “Offering easy-to-read information on the PHR can reinforce how to use and access information once the patient leaves the office.”
Written information that explains PHRs should be at a level that a majority of patients can understand—that’s usually a sixth-grade level or lower—and should avoid jargon, all caps and small font sizes, Keenan adds.
Finally, despite any best efforts, it can be tough for rheumatology patients to keep up with their health information if they are feeling fatigued by their condition, Keenan says.
Age-related cognitive changes, such as working memory, reasoning, processing speed and executive functioning, can affect older patients’ abilities to keep a PHR.2 A caregiver or family member may need to help maintain PHRs for certain patients.
Vanessa Caceres is a freelance medical writer in Bradenton, Fla.
PHR Resources
My PHR
http://www.myphr.com
This comprehensive website from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and the AHIMA Foundation explains what a PHR is and how to create one. There are links on the site for physicians, seniors, parents, caregivers and the chronically ill.
Quick Guide to Creating a PHR
http://www.myphr.com/StartaPHR/quick_guide.aspx
A seven-step process from AHIMA and the AHIMA Foundation that guides patients in how to create a PHR.
Raphael Personal Health Record (PHR app)
http://starxtech.com/starxtech.com/Raphael_Personal_Medical_Record_App_Overview.html#0
An overview of the PHR app mentioned in the article, created by Leonard Bielory, MD.
What Is a Personal Health Record?
http://www.healthit.gov/providers-professionals/faqs/what-personal-health-record
A federal government resource that explains what a PHR is.