The what, why and how of implementing Personal Healh Record Systems

The fledgling, but rapidly growing Personal Health Record (PHR) systems market currently has over 200 vendors, so there is a high degree of variability in both the nature and scope of product offerings. This blog post highlights 2 reports that can help in understanding what is available, what is possible, how to make the choice between alternative systems, and the value proposition in implementing a PHR system.

New eHealth Platform has potential to allow Canadians manage their own healthcare.

New eHealth Platform TELUS health space has potential to allow Canadians manage their own healthcare. However, though access to personal health records (PHRs) online has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, there are some challenges to be overcome. The technical challenges are important, but workable. The human side -- education, tools and encouraging buy-in to the concept are crucial in determining whether the full potential of PHRs to revolutionize health care will be realized.

EHR Impact Study Findings: Interoperability, long-term strategic focus, good management essential to realize eventual benefit from investment

There is very little evidence on which to base EHR implementation investment decisions. Fortunately, that is changing. Findings from the recently released EHR Impact study: The Socio-Economic Impact of Interoperable Electronic Health Record (EHR) and Eprescribing Systems in Europe and Beyond, show that EHRs and ePrescribing are not quick wins, but they are sustainable wins. An important finding was that interoperability is a prime driver of benefits from EHR and ePrescribing systems as benefits rely on access to information regardless of place and time. Local, closed ICT systems lacking interoperability would not release these substantial gains. Extremely important to success of such investments, also, is the skill and expertise of executives and managers in managing organisational change and resource redeployment.