Health IT can help you improve communication with your patients.1 2 To learn more about how health IT can help you share information with your patients, check out the technologies below.
- Electronic Health Records: Electronic health records (EHRs) are built to share information with other health care organizations and with patients. You can use EHRs to provide patients with clinical summaries, educational resources, and electronic copies of their health information, all of which will help keep your patients engaged in their health and health care.
- Personal Health Records: A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. PHRs allow patients actively manage their health information and health care.
- Blue Button: “Blue Button” is a way for patients to get easy, secure online access to their health information. With “Blue Button,” patients can download their health data and use it to improve their health and health care.
Health IT Stories
One of the best ways to understand the value of health IT can be through personal testimonials. Learn more about the value of sharing information with patients through the following stories.
- Patient Portal Increases Communication Between Patients and Providers
- A Wife's Vow: Access to Your Record Can Save Your Life
- Health IT Story: Lilianne Wright
- Viewing Patients as Partners: Patient Portal Implementation and Adoption
For More Information
For more information on how health IT can help you share information with patients, see the following resources.
- Patient Participation
- How do I educate patients about health IT?
- Talking to Your Patients About Electronic Health Records [PDF - 184 KB]
References
- DesRoches CM, Campbell EG, Rao S, Donelan K, Ferris TG, Jha A, Kaushal R, Levy DE, Rosenbaum S, Shields AE, Blumenthal D. “Electronic Health Records in Ambulatory Care – A National Survey of Physicians.” New England Journal of Medicine. 2008.
- Shield RR, Goldman RE, Anthony DA, Wang N, Doyle RJ, Borkan J. “Gradual Electronic Health Record Implementation: New Insights on Physician and Patient Adaptation.” Annals of Family Medicine. 2010.