This is the second part of our series on personal health records. Click here to read Part I and stay tuned to Benefits Selling Weekly for the rest of the series.
Personal health record technology exists today that provides real-time clinical analysis and two-way, interactive exchange of data. This analytical, dynamic PHR takes a data-rich environment to the next level by actively driving patient activity, patient access and interaction between the physician and patient.
As new data is received, either from claims or from the patient, it is added to existing patient data and analyzed for targeted and actionable opportunities to improve care. When an issue is identified, the user receives an alert in the PHR, which they are directed to through e-mail notification. In addition, the issue is communicated to the treating physician. When clinical alerts are sent to both the patient and the physician, both parties are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions and to collaborate intelligently and productively.
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Dynamic PHRs integrate in real-time with clinical decision support technologies designed to aggregate data to compare with thousands of medical rules that represent incontrovertible standards of care. This allows for discrepancies to be highlighted between the care that a patient is actually receiving as reflected in his or her claims history, and the care that the patient should be receiving as reflected in the evidence-based literature.
Let's say a patient uses his PHR and enters that he is taking acetaminophen. The dynamic PHR can immediately tell the patient that the over-the-counter drug, in the context of an abnormal liver function test, is not recommended. Other examples of alerts include potential misdiagnoses, potential adverse drug interactions, absence of therapeutically beneficial drugs, missing lab tests and reminders for preventive exams, such as mammograms and colonoscopies.
On another occasion, the system might spot a patient who indicates in her PHR that she's taking a particular prescription that might have a side effect on the kidneys — and also finds claims data that the patient is being treated for kidney disease and is taking other prescription medications in preparation for a kidney transplant — the system would send an alert to the doctor. The physician — and then the patient — would be notified that the combination of drugs could increase the chances of a new kidney being rejected. It is these types of potential medical missteps that a dynamic PHR can help physicians and patients avoid, while guiding patients toward staying healthier.
With enhanced capabilities, a PHR backed by clinical decision support technology can provide health information exchange (HIE) with fully functioning electronic medical record (EMR) systems.
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