personal health records

This week has been personal health record survey week. Both the Markle Foundation and Manhattan Research came out with survey results showing that there is widespread approval of the concept of personal health records among the public, and a minority are even likely to use one. This, of course, is news in the wake of the Gulf Coast hurricanes, which showed the need for better medical …

Americans like the idea of electronic health records. They are worried, however, about the privacy implications of the technology, especially when it comes to employers and insurance companies. Those are two conclusions highlighted by a recent study funded by the Markle Foundation and conducted by polling group Public Opinion Strategies, which found that more than 60 percent favored personal health records. The group says emphasis must be placed on ensuring consumer confidence in privacy …

For many years health insurers have struggled (or refused) to represent the information they have about their members back in useful form to their members. In an era of online banking and airline reservations systems, health plans have been badly behind. Finally this trend may be changing, with WebMD Health, on an ASP basis, leading the provision of personal health records, personalized health information and tools and benefit information directly linked to members claims and service …