Reasons to get a Personal Health Record

Imagine if you can carry all your personal health records in your necklace locket, that way in cases of emergency, medical personnel will know who to call, which allergies you have, what blood type are you and everything else they need to know to help you. Now, thanks to technology, you can.

Personal Health Record

This one is a necklace from a Very Special Heart. Your Very Special Heart™ can be worn as a necklace or used as a keychain or purse clip (keychain/purse clip included). One side has an elegant filigree pattern, the other side – a smooth, contemporary finish. But what is more priceless is what is inside. It carries your Personal Health Record as well as your medicine dosage for emergencies.

A digital health record (known as the PHR ) is a computer-based software application that allows you to store a variety of personal health information including illnesses, hospitalizations, encounters (i.e. visits and communications), journal information in between doctor visits, medications, allergies, immunizations, surgeries, lab results, and family history. The personal health record differs from an electronic medical record which is a similar application with much more all-encompassing features used by healthcare providers such as scheduling and insurance billing, in addition to the storage of patient health data. Owning and maintaining an up-to-date digital personal health record has many benefits and is the cornerstone of proactive healthcare involvement and better healthcare experiences.

Here are some reasons to get one:
1. It improves the quality of healthcare you receive by enabling you to be better prepared for doctor visits, equipped with the accurate and relevant information that your doctor needs to pursue an optimal treatment course.

2. It also ensures the availability of your health information in a legible form and facilitates the flow of that information between your and healthcare provider(s) whether only one physician is treating you or several doctors are participating in your care. Information in the record can be conveyed to your health-care provider(s) verbally, in print out form, digitally on an external medium such as a flash drive, and in some cases via the Internet prior to office visits.

3. It could save your life, literally.