Patient participation is especially important in managing and treating chronic conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). Healthcare providers and patients can share access to electronic health information, and collaborate in informed decision making.
How EHRs Foster Patient Participation
Electronic health records (EHRs) can help providers:
Ensure high-quality care.
Utilizing EHRs, authorized healthcare providers can give patients full and accurate information about all of their medical evaluations. Providers are also able to offer follow-up information after an office visit or a hospital stay, such as self-care instructions, reminders for other follow-up care, and links to web resources.
Create an avenue for communication with their patients.
Utilizing EHRs, authorized healthcare providers can manage appointment schedules electronically and exchange e-mail with their patients. Quick and easy communication between patients and healthcare providers may help the providers identify symptoms earlier. It also positions healthcare providers to be more proactive by reaching out to patients.
Patient Participation creates Personal Health Records
The personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage their own health information (or that of others for whom they are authorized to do so).
PHRs differ from EHRs in that the patients themselves usually set up and access the PHR.
Patients use PHRs to keep track of information from doctor visits, record other health-related information, and link to health-related resources.
PHRs can increase patient participation in their own care.
PHRs can also help families become more engaged in the health care of family members.
Standalone versus Tethered PHRs
Using standalone PHRs, patients fill in the information from their own records and memories, and the data is then stored on patients’ computers or the internet.
The tethered, or connected, PHRs are linked to a specific health care organization’s EHR system, or to a health plan’s information system. The patient accesses the information through a secure portal.
Using the tethered PHRs, patients can log on to their own records and view, for example, the trend of their lab results over the last six months. This kind of data can motivate patients to take medications and keep up with lifestyle changes that have improved their health.
Ideally, patients will be able to link their PHRs with their doctors’ EHRs, creating their own health care “hubs.” Most physicians are not quite ready for that kind of change just yet, but it is a worthy goal.
The Patient’s Perspective
Information technology is at the heart of modern life. It touches different people in different ways. Some are comfortable with new technologies; others may be intimidated, at least at first. EHRs, PHRs, and other health IT developments tend to make many patients more active participants in their own health care. As providers adopt new technologies such as EHRs, it’s important to keep the patient’s perspective in mind.
If you find this blog helpful, please share it with colleagues, or direct them to our website.