Can They Bridge the Information Gap?
News Release March 10, 2009 FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Alwyn Cassil (202) 264-3484 or acassil@hschange.org WASHINGTON, DC While many major health insurers have created personal health records (PHRs) to allow enrollees to electronically store and organize their health care information, whether patients and physicians will embrace the new electronic tool remains an open question, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) published today in the journal Health Affairs. A PHR is a centralized place for people to electronically store and organize their personal health information, separate from electronic or paper medical records maintained by their health care providers. Many advocates believe that PHRs have the potential to revolutionize health care by engaging patients in their care, improving patient-clinician communication, and, ultimately, improving health outcomes and reducing costs. While there are many different types of PHRs, including stand-alon
