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Online health record saves time in crisis
Most Texans find themselves at some point in their lives facing natural or man-made disasters such as fires, floods, tornadoes or hurricanes. Just ask those in the path of Hurricane Gustav.
Catastrophes such as these may prevent ready access to critical health-related information, like the name of prescription drugs or the dosages prescribed for them.
“We all assume that access to medical information is just a paper record or a pill bottle away,” said Randy Giles, UnitedHealthcare South Texas CEO. “In reality, these are easily perishable items that, if not readily available, can seriously affect our health.”
Committing our health history to memory is not practical; however, a much easier option is to keep vital medical information online in a personal health record (PHR). Some PHRs use medical and pharmacy claims information from your insurer to create an electronic up-to-date summary of your health history, including a list of medical conditions, surgeries and procedures, medications, and laboratory and radiology tests.
In addition, PHRs can be a great help to health care professionals in the event you need treatment. Should you or your family be displaced and need medical care – anywhere in the country, your online PHR can be accessed (but only with your permission) by a physician or hospital.
Many insurers offer free PHRs to their health plan customers. Here’s what you can do to get set up:
Ask your health insurer if your personal health records are available online.
If PHRs are available online, learn how to get access.
Make sure what your insurer has included is accurate, and if not, how it can be corrected.
If the online format permits, add additional health-related information like family history and allergies, current blood pressure and weight.
Print a hard copy of your PHR and put it with your other important documents.
Save a copy electronically.
Share a copy with your physician(s).
“The data available for storing on a PHR varies from insurer to insurer; however, there are many forms offered online that can be populated and saved,” said Giles. “Whatever format you choose, it is a comfort to know your vitally important health records are in a safe, accessible place.”
“An online PHR is a lockbox for our information technology age,” Giles added.
Catastrophes such as these may prevent ready access to critical health-related information, like the name of prescription drugs or the dosages prescribed for them.
“We all assume that access to medical information is just a paper record or a pill bottle away,” said Randy Giles, UnitedHealthcare South Texas CEO. “In reality, these are easily perishable items that, if not readily available, can seriously affect our health.”
Committing our health history to memory is not practical; however, a much easier option is to keep vital medical information online in a personal health record (PHR). Some PHRs use medical and pharmacy claims information from your insurer to create an electronic up-to-date summary of your health history, including a list of medical conditions, surgeries and procedures, medications, and laboratory and radiology tests.
In addition, PHRs can be a great help to health care professionals in the event you need treatment. Should you or your family be displaced and need medical care – anywhere in the country, your online PHR can be accessed (but only with your permission) by a physician or hospital.
Many insurers offer free PHRs to their health plan customers. Here’s what you can do to get set up:
Ask your health insurer if your personal health records are available online.
If PHRs are available online, learn how to get access.
Make sure what your insurer has included is accurate, and if not, how it can be corrected.
If the online format permits, add additional health-related information like family history and allergies, current blood pressure and weight.
Print a hard copy of your PHR and put it with your other important documents.
Save a copy electronically.
Share a copy with your physician(s).
“The data available for storing on a PHR varies from insurer to insurer; however, there are many forms offered online that can be populated and saved,” said Giles. “Whatever format you choose, it is a comfort to know your vitally important health records are in a safe, accessible place.”
“An online PHR is a lockbox for our information technology age,” Giles added.
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