Technology advancement and increased personal health management provides more control and value to individuals. This occurs by enabling creation and maintenance of a longitudinal health record that includes all pertinent information to be compiled in a secure, yet available location when needed.

Personal Health Communication

Individuals, Families, Caregivers, Health Care Providers, Payers

When the Continuity of Care data set becomes a standard for health information exchange and all licensed health care providers are required to generate it following any encounter a longitudinal record is possible by "deposits" being made to personal health record "accounts" and creating a lifespanning record of health related services. Since the CCD data set includes the ability to share functional status assessment information, this data is freely exchanged with anyone that the indiviudal authorizes.

Mary Jones sees a number of different specialists to treat unrelated health problems. Each time Mary receives a health service she receives a "deposit" of data in her health record account. This deposit includes CCD data from physician service visits, hospital stays, ambulatory surgery centers and home health agencies. Mary has authorized her primary care physician and all Hospital Emergency Departments to access her account when she presents for care. Other providers, agencies and persons receive information on a "need to know" basis controlled by Mary. After Mary had surgery and required home care while she recovered, she authorized access to the CCD records from a clinic where she received physical therapy that included functional status information important for evaluation of needs for current care.