Personal Health Records and Patient Portals

Personal health records are a collection of your health information. Basic information is recorded in this record. This information includes:

• Your doctor’s name
• Medication and nonmedication allergies
• Medications you are currently taking
• List and dates of illnesses and surgeries
• Chronic health history and family history
• Living will or advance directives
• Immunization history

All of this information can be easily accessible when they are electronic. They can be accessed anywhere at any time with a web-enabled device. Personal health records may be used in an emergency to provide important information to the first responders. This electronic information also allows you to track your health, manage health in between doctor visits, and organize health information.

Patient portals are the result of your personal health record and your electronic medical records being combined. Electronic medical records are the records that are maintained by the doctors office. By having a patient portal, this allows you to see doctor visit notes, lab tests, and more.

This information in your personal health record and patient portals are protected by the systems that created them. They are to follow industry best practices by making their privacy policies public and by being monitored by independent organizations. Also, federal laws are in place to protect personal health information.

• Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Personal health records and patient portals. Mayo Clinic.Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/personal-health-record/art-20047273