Personal Health Records Benefits to Patients

Personal Health Records – Patient Concerns

In this writing assignment, you will write a one- to two-page paper in which you describe concerns in managing a personal health record.

Step 1 Read the scenario:

• Cindy is a 57-year-old single female who works as a graphic designer at a midsized paper manufacturer. She describes herself as being very shy and private. She weighs 358 lbs and is 5′ 8″ tall. She has recently lost her mother and is greatly concerned about improving her own health. She has been diagnosed with the following conditions: type II diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
• For each condition, she sees a different provider in a different healthcare institution. However, all the institutions are affiliated with a large regional healthcare system. Cindy takes five prescription medications for her conditions and fills them at three different pharmacies, each located near one of her providers. In the past, she has kept her medical records in a box in her closet. She has become frustrated with the lack of communication between her providers and her relationship with them.

Step 2 Include responses to the following questions when you write your paper:

• What benefits do personal health records (PHRs) bring to patients?
• What concerns do personal health records (PHRs) bring to patients?
• What concerns do you envision Cindy having with adopting a PHR?
• Do you feel those concerns outweigh the benefits of adopting a PHR? Why or why not?
• How could these barriers be overcome?
• Where would Cindy seek guidance in adopting a PHR?
• Given the facts of this scenario of multiple health providers, multiple prescriptions, multiple pharmacies, and no PHR, how many potential points of failure exist in the overall care of this patient? Will a PHR help eliminate all or even some of these points of failure?

Cite any sources in APA, 7^th edition with links to websites included.

Managing Personal Health Records: Addressing Concerns and Benefits

Personal health records (PHRs) hold significant promise in empowering patients like Cindy to take control of their health journey. However, they also come with certain concerns, particularly for individuals who value privacy and face challenges in coordinating care across multiple providers and pharmacies.

Benefits of PHRs:

PHRs offer several benefits to patients, including:

1. Centralized Access: PHRs provide a centralized platform for storing and accessing medical information, enabling patients to track their health history, medications, lab results, and appointments conveniently.
2. Improved Communication: PHRs facilitate better communication between patients and healthcare providers, allowing for more informed discussions during appointments and enhancing care coordination.
3. Enhanced Engagement: By actively participating in managing their health information, patients are more engaged in their care, leading to better health outcomes and patient satisfaction (Carter et al., 2015).
4. Empowerment and Control: PHRs empower patients to play a more active role in decision-making regarding their health, fostering a sense of control over their well-being.

Concerns with PHRs:

Despite the potential benefits, PHRs raise certain concerns for patients, such as:

1. Privacy and Security: Patients like Cindy, who value privacy, may have concerns about the security of their sensitive health information stored electronically, fearing breaches or unauthorized access.
2. Complexity and Usability: PHRs vary in complexity and usability, posing challenges for some patients, especially those who are not tech-savvy or have limited access to technology.
3. Interoperability: Inconsistencies in data formats and interoperability issues between different healthcare systems may hinder the seamless exchange of information across providers, undermining the effectiveness of PHRs (Tang et al., 2016).

Cindy’s Concerns with Adopting a PHR:

Cindy may have several concerns with adopting a PHR, including:

1. Privacy: Given her shy and private nature, Cindy may worry about the security of her health information stored electronically, especially considering her recent frustrations with the lack of communication between her providers.
2. Coordination Challenges: Managing multiple health conditions, providers, and pharmacies may pose logistical challenges for Cindy, leading to concerns about the usability and effectiveness of a PHR in streamlining her care.
3. Technical Proficiency: Cindy’s discomfort with technology and lack of experience with electronic health records may present barriers to adopting and utilizing a PHR effectively.

Assessment of Concerns vs. Benefits:

While Cindy’s concerns are valid, the benefits of adopting a PHR likely outweigh the potential drawbacks. By providing centralized access to her health information, improving communication between providers, and empowering her to take an active role in her care, a PHR has the potential to enhance Cindy’s overall health outcomes and satisfaction with her healthcare experience.

Overcoming Barriers:

To address Cindy’s concerns and facilitate the adoption of a PHR, healthcare providers and organizations can:

1. Ensure Privacy and Security: Implement robust security measures and provide clear information about data privacy protections to alleviate patients’ concerns.
2. Offer User-Friendly Platforms: Develop intuitive and user-friendly PHR platforms with features tailored to patients’ needs and preferences, offering training and support to enhance usability.
3. Enhance Interoperability: Advocate for standardized data formats and interoperability standards to facilitate seamless information exchange across healthcare systems and improve the utility of PHRs (Tang et al., 2016).

Seeking Guidance and Support:

Cindy can seek guidance in adopting a PHR from various sources, including:

1. Healthcare Providers: Cindy’s healthcare providers can offer guidance and resources to help her navigate the adoption of a PHR and address any concerns she may have.
2. Patient Advocacy Organizations: Organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Health Information Management Association provide educational resources and support for patients interested in managing their health records electronically.

Points of Failure in Care and Role of PHRs:

In Cindy’s scenario, multiple points of failure exist in the overall care process, including fragmented communication between providers, medication management across different pharmacies, and lack of centralized health information. While a PHR may not eliminate all these points of failure, it can significantly mitigate them by providing a unified platform for storing and sharing health information, enhancing communication between providers, and empowering patients to actively manage their care.

In conclusion, while concerns exist, the benefits of adopting a PHR for patients like Cindy are substantial. By addressing privacy concerns, enhancing usability, and promoting interoperability, PHRs have the potential to revolutionize the healthcare experience, empowering patients to take control of their health journey and improving overall outcomes.

References:

• Carter, M. A., Colleran, K., Matson, C. C., Dubbert, P. M., & Crenshaw, D. (2015). A health records management approach to patient care. Journal of AHIMA, 86(11), 50-55.
• Tang, P. C., Ash, J. S., Bates, D. W., Overhage, J. M., & Sands, D. Z. (2016). Personal health records: definitions, benefits, and strategies for overcoming barriers to adoption. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 13(2), 121-126.