With back-to-school week just completed, chances are you’ve been bombarded by back-to-school-sale ads, or your children have pleaded for the latest high-tech gadget or trendy pair of jeans.
As we stock up on school supplies, clothes and more in anticipation of another school year, we should give equal consideration to our children’s – as well as our own – personal medical records and health history.
Technology – and the Internet in particular – is revolutionizing health care by enabling us to gain quicker and easier access to vital health care information, including our medical history and those of our loved ones. This information, for example, can come in handy for a son or daughter required to complete a physical exam or provide an immunization update to participate in a particular school function.
Additionally, online personal health records enable college students, many of whom attend university out of state and travel abroad, to easily access their medical records any time.
When you think about it, personal health information and access to medical records are vital not just at the beginning of the school year, but year-round by people of all ages. However, a recent survey by Harris Interactive found that only 7 percent of adults in the United States use online personal health records, and 35 percent of respondents were unaware that such a resource even exists. Yet, a number of health insurers and hospitals offer free online personal health records for their patients.
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ersonal health records contain information such as current medical conditions, medication history – including prescription names, dosages and refill dates – lab results, immunization records and more that can help doctors in the event you need treatment.
For example, the personal health record offered by UnitedHealthcare is pre-populated with information from a member’s medical and pharmaceutical claims information. Members can also enter self-reported information for their own tracking and reference, including blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and cholesterol levels, allergies and vaccinations.
We believe easier access to our medical records will help us take more charge of our health and make better health decisions. What better time than the beginning of a new school year to learn how to more easily manage our health information? Ask your doctor our health plan to see if you can create a personal health record for you and your family.
Dr. Eric Christianson is the medical director for UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin.
