What can a personal health record do for you?

Having a detailed record of your medical history and medicines you take can save you and your healthcare professional time. And it lets you help your healthcare professional know details about your health.

Maybe you see two or more healthcare professionals who don't use the same electronic health record system. A PHR keeps all your health information in one place.

A personal health record also helps you manage your health between medical visits. For instance, a PHR lets you:

• Track your health. Record and track progress toward your health goals, such as lowering your cholesterol level.
• Make the most of visits to healthcare professionals. Be ready with information you want to share, such as blood pressure readings since your last visit.
• Manage your health between visits. Upload and track information from home-monitoring devices such as a blood pressure cuff. And remind yourself of what your healthcare professional told you at your last visit.
• Get organized. Track appointments, vaccinations, and preventive or screening care, such as mammograms. Studies have found that the use of personal health records helps people know more about their health, make better medical decisions, follow their treatment plans, and use screening and other preventive services.