Personal Health Records – Patient Concerns

Personal Health Records – Patient Concerns

Benefits of Personal Health Records (PHRs)

There are many benefits that patients can enjoy with PHRs. They provide enhanced accessibility and convenience. Patients can easily access their medical information anytime and from any location. This lets individuals conveniently review their records, test results, and treatment plans. This accessibility is particularly advantageous for individuals with chronic conditions as it allows individuals to track their health progress actively.

Furthermore, PHRs contribute to the enhancement of care coordination by fostering better communication among different healthcare providers (Tapuria et al., 2021). With Cindy’s visits to multiple healthcare providers at other institutions, her complete medical history becomes accessible to all her healthcare professionals. This leads to more comprehensive and informed care for her. PHRs are also beneficial for medication management, which is essential for individuals like Cindy, who has multiple prescriptions from various pharmacies. Users can conveniently manage their medications, dosage instructions, and potential drug interactions in a single location, reducing the likelihood of mistakes. PHRs empower individuals to take an active role in their healthcare by providing them with the tools to monitor their progress, set health goals, and work together with their healthcare providers to make informed decisions.

Concerns regarding Personal Health Records (PHRs)

While PHRs offer advantages, there are also certain concerns linked to them. Privacy and security are of utmost importance to patients, including Cindy. Certain individuals, especially those who value their privacy, may have reservations about the safeguarding of their confidential health data. Concerns may arise regarding possible data breaches or unauthorized access. Certain individuals may face difficulties when confronted with technical obstacles, often stemming from a limited understanding of technology. Cindy, a thoughtful and concise individual, may feel apprehensive about utilizing a PHR system, concerned about potential errors or unintentional disclosure of her health information. Cindy may have concerns about potential discrepancies or errors in her medical records, as ensuring data accuracy is paramount. Furthermore, PHRs must be adaptable to different healthcare systems in order to accommodate Cindy’s providers and pharmacies, which may utilize a variety of electronic health record (EHR) systems. Ensuring a smooth integration of these systems with her preferred PHR platform can pose a challenge (Keshta & Odeh, 2021). Moreover, embracing and upholding a PHR can be quite expensive, posing difficulty for individuals burdened with substantial healthcare costs due to chronic conditions.

Cindy’s Concerns about Adopting a Personal Health Record

Cindy’s situation is distinct, and her traits and circumstances raise particular concerns. Her primary focus appears to be centered around privacy. Cindy, who highly values her privacy, may have legitimate concerns about sharing her health information electronically. She may worry about the possibility of data breaches and unauthorized access to her data. In addition, her preference for privacy and reserved nature may lead to inquiries regarding her technical abilities. Cindy may have reservations about using a PHR system, expressing a sense of caution when managing her health information. Consistently, Cindy may question the effectiveness of adopting a PHR in enhancing the coordination of her care, considering her dissatisfaction with the inadequate communication among her providers. Furthermore, Cindy, driven to enhance her well-being, would appreciate precise and current information. This may pose a potential issue if she needs to enter data into the PHR manually.

Considering the Advantages and Disadvantages

I believe that the benefits of PHRs outweigh the concerns. However, considering the advantages and disadvantages of adopting a PHR is a personal decision that Cindy, like many patients, would need to make. She should weigh the potential benefits, such as improved care coordination, medication management, and empowerment, against her concerns regarding privacy, technical skills, data accuracy, and cost. It is essential to acknowledge her concerns and offer assistance.

Conquering Challenges

There are various measures that healthcare providers and institutions can implement to assist patients such as Cindy in overcoming these obstacles. They can offer educational resources and ongoing support to assist patients in effectively utilizing PHR systems and resolving technical difficulties. It is of utmost importance to prioritize the implementation of privacy and security measures in order to address concerns regarding patient data effectively. Precise data is attained by diligently managing and verifying the information in the PHR (Fylan et al., 2018). Promoting the adoption of compatible EHR systems in healthcare institutions can improve interoperability. Furthermore, exploring methods to reduce the financial obstacle, such as implementing subsidies or establishing collaborations with insurance providers, can enhance the availability of PHRs. Having knowledgeable individuals to guide patients through the intricacies of the healthcare system can be incredibly helpful.

Seeking Guidance

Cindy has several avenues to explore for seeking guidance when adopting a PHR.   These entities encompass healthcare providers, institutions, patient advocacy groups, and technical support services from the PHR platform. These sources offer valuable insights and resources to facilitate a seamless transition to using a PHR.

Shortcomings in Cindy’s Care

Cindy’s healthcare case raises concerns about potential areas of failure. Challenges arise due to the limited exchange of information among providers, the possibility of medication errors resulting from the involvement of multiple pharmacies, and the presence of incomplete medical records. While a properly implemented PHR can assist with care coordination and medication management, it may not entirely resolve all potential concerns (Fylan et al., 2018). The effectiveness of a PHR depends on the precise input of data and the seamless integration of healthcare systems.   Nevertheless, it can significantly improve the care experience for patients like Cindy.

References

Fylan, F., Caveney, L., Cartwright, A., & Fylan, B. (2018). Making it work for me: beliefs about making a personal health record relevant and useable. BMC Health Services Research, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3254-z

Keshta, I., & Odeh, A. (2021). Security and privacy of electronic health records: Concerns and challenges. Egyptian Informatics Journal, 22(2), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eij.2020.07.003

Tapuria, A., Porat, T., Kalra, D., Dsouza, G., Xiaohui, S., & Curcin, V. (2021). Impact of patient access to their electronic health record: systematic review. Informatics for Health and Social Care, 46(2), 194–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538157.2021.1879810

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

---

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 condition 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 format.