Northern Illinois Physicians For Connectivity

A Community View on How Personal Health Records Can Improve Patient Care and Outcomesin Many Healthcare Settings

Abstract The health information technology (HIT) industry is developing powerful tools that hold the potential to vastly improve the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and safety of medical care in the US. Personal health records (PHRs), whose access is controlled by individuals, is one of those HIT tools.

This series of essays provides perspectives about personal health records from thirty eight individuals with eleven different perspectives; Integrated Delivery System providers, pharmacists, academic providers, a private hospital administrator, a private practice physician, a long term care facility administrator, a federally qualified health center administrator, a nurse informatician who works for a PHR/chronic care management vendor, a healthcare consumer who manages his long term problems using a PHR, a rural healthcare provider and medical executives involved in employee benefits.

In addition to these eleven perspectives, we have included three technical essays; one regarding privacy and security of PHRs, one regarding technical aspects of linking PHRs electronically to electronic health records and one regarding the technical accessibility challenges unique to persons with disabilities

You are free to copy, distribute and transmit the PDF version of this book as long as you attribute the complete work. Download it here.

When referencing specific chapters within the book, please give attribution to all the authors who contributed to the chapter you are referencing.

If you are interested in ordering a hard copy of the book you may print this Order Form and mail it to the publisher, Northern Illinois University Regional Development Institute.

Stasia Kahn MD Lead author

Resources for information on Healthcare Information Technology,
ARRA, Meaningful Use, HIE & other sites of possible interest:

1. The Final Rule for the Initial Set of Standards,
Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for
Electronic Health Record technology is a document
that describes the EMR standards that EMRs must meet
to qualify and be designated as a certified EMR.
Final Rule for the Initial Set of Standards,
Implementation Specifications, and Certification
Criteria for Electronic Health Record technology

2. The interim final rule is a document published
on the Federal Registry on January 2010 that
describes the EMR standards that EMRs must meet
to qualify and be designated as a certified EMR.
Interim Final Rule Health Information Technology:
Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications,
and Certification Criteria for EHR Technology

3. The Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
Final Rule is a 864 page document that outlines what eligible
providers must do to qualify for meaningful use incentives.
Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Final Rule

4. The proposed rule is a 560 page document outlining what
eligible providers must do to qualify for meaningful use incentives.
Proposed Rule Medicare and Medicaid Programs;
Electronic Health Record Incentive Program

5. The Final rule for EHR certification establishes a
certification program for authorizing organizations
to test and certify EHRs and/or EHR modules to assure
that the EHR technology is capable of supporting
healthcare provider efforts to achieve Meaningful Use.
Final Rule Certification Program
for EHR Technology