Five Reasons You Should Use Your Personal Health Record on Your Wellness Journey

Technology has changed the way we communicate with our family, friends, and it has also blessed me with the opportunity to share wellness tips with you. As technology and healthcare continue to evolve, there are more opportunities for patients to become active members of their healthcare team. Are you aware of all the ways technology can help improve your health outcomes and provide clues to how you can improve your wellness journey? If you are serious about making wellness your best accessory and making positive lifestyle changes on your wellness journey, continue reading to find out why you should use your personal health record on your wellness journey.

Technology is used in healthcare to improve communication, quality of care, access to care, and patient outcomes. A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic health record system that provides health information that is specific to the patient. The information found in a patient’s personal health record provides detailed documentation of a patient’s medical history; medications; allergies; diagnostic results; and provider’s history. The personal health record is beneficial for the patient because it provides access to clinical documentation electronically through a patient portal. This access to medical documentation was designed to encourage the patient to become an active member of their healthcare team. When both the patient and provider have direct access to the patient’s health record, it can serve as a tool to facilitate effective communication between clinical staff and patients. A patient portal can enhance patient-provider communication; empower patients; support care between visits; and most importantly, improve patient outcomes (McBride, Susan, PhD, RN-BC, CPHIMS et al., 2018).

Do you have access to your patient portal? How often do you log in to your patient portal to review your medications, lab results, or communicate with your provider? If you have not consistently used your personal health record to improve your health outcomes and kick-start your wellness journey, I encourage you to start today. Below I will share five reasons you should use your personal health record on your wellness journey. Let’s Get To It!

Review Labs and Diagnostic Test Results:

Labs are usually collected for most routine checkup appointments with your healthcare provider. Lab values help providers screen for diseases; diagnose medical conditions; evaluate current treatment plans; and monitor trends. When a patient has an abnormal lab value, the provider is responsible for alerting the patient and discussing lab results with the patient. Have you ever discussed a lab result with your provider and did not fully comprehend what the result indicated? Have you thought of additional questions you would like to ask your provider regarding your lab result or diagnostic test results after your clinic visit? If so, your patient portal is an excellent resource to communicate with your provider and ask additional questions. The patient portal also provides the opportunity to review lab results in the comfort of your home and consider what lifestyle changes such as diet, fluid intake, or activity you can make to assist you on your wellness journey.

Communicate with Your Provider:

A personal health record is a great tool to communicate with your provider. It is a great way to document and express non-emergent concerns. As you find your way on your wellness journey, you can discuss supplements; diet; and exercise options with your provider in-between visits to make sure you are on the right track. If you have any concerns or notice any errors in your medical record, you can use the patient portal to notify your provider. The patient portal is also a great way to request medication refills and schedule routine appointments. It is important to schedule routine follow-up visits and keep active refills on all medications while on your wellness journey. Your patient health record can help keep you on track.

Valuable Resources:

A patient health record is specific to each individual patient’s needs. Providers can share educational resources for specific diagnosis to assist the patient in their daily health routine. Resources can cover recommended diet; exercise; and lifestyle habits. Some patient portals can have specific links for patients to use to help patients obtaining a better understanding of their diagnosis and treatment plan. This knowledge can empower the patient to make daily choices to improve their health outcomes.

Visualize Trends:

Patient health records provide a trend of in clinic blood pressure readings; blood glucose readings; and lab results. Take the time to review these results to identify any trends that suggest if your health is going in a positive or negative direction. If you notice that your readings are abnormal or close to abnormal consider what lifestyle adjustments, you can make that will lead you in the right direction. You can also use your personal health record to share your home blood pressure; heart rate; weight; and blood glucose readings with your provider before scheduled visits. Some providers may use this information to schedule an earlier appointment or instruct the patient to seek immediate medical evaluation.

Take Control of Your Health:

Use your personal health record to take control of your health. I always encourage my patient and empower them to become active members of their healthcare team. The personal health record allows the patient to ask questions, communicate with their provider and remain knowledgeable on their current health status. Patients can use their patient health record to collaborate with their provider to create a specific plan that is best for their lifestyle.

A personal health record is the perfect tool to use on your wellness journey. It allows you to keep open-communication with your provider in-between clinic visits. Allow the information inside your patient portal to empower you to ask questions; make lifestyle changes; and get back on track in your wellness journey. Take control of your wellness journey; become an active member of your healthcare team; and Make Wellness your Best Accessory!

Your Sister in Wellness,

Lauren

References:

McBride, Susan, PhD, RN-BC, CPHIMS & Tietze, Mari, PhD, RN-BC, FHIMSS. (2018). Nursing informatics for the advanced practice nurse, second edition: Patient safety, quality, outcomes, and interprofessionalism (2nd ed.). Springer Publishing Company