One component that is frequently missed or downplayed in other personal health records (PHRs) is the patient education aspect. I read some articles that state that this is one necessary component of a personal health record. About 75% of online users search for health information on the Internet according to the Pew Internet Group and this statistic has held true for a several years now.
Community Health Network’s PHR is tightly integrated with the consumer health library and has been since it was designed and built two years ago. A patient can add a record to their PHR and become better informed about their health at the same time. And when a patient uses their personal health record eCommunity.com recommends other health content related to what the patient entered into their PHR.
Transactions are important on a health care website but also, just as important is patient education. Most health care providers realize this but we have not only bought the obligatory consumer health information library, we have embraced it and used it for other applications on the website like the PHR.
