Articles
Personal health records and patient portals
Content
What is a personal health record?
What information goes into a PHR?
PHRs, EHRs and patient portals
What are the benefits of a PHR?
Are there drawbacks to PHRs?
Will my information be kept private?
How do I get started?
What information goes into a PHR?
In general, your PHR needs to include anything that helps you and your doctors manage your health — starting with the basics:
- Your doctor's names and phone numbers
- Allergies, including drug allergies
- Your medications, including dosages
- List and dates of illnesses and surgeries
- Chronic health problems, such as high blood pressure
- Living will or advance directives
- Family history
- Immunization history
You can also add information about what you're doing to stay healthy and prevent disease, such as:
- Home blood pressure readings
- Exercise and dietary habits
- Health goals, such as stopping smoking or losing weight