Publication Type: Session Paper
Abstract: The Internet has enabled a new dimension of health communication in which organizations can leverage technology to facilitate connecting with health care consumers, supporting data and information distribution, interaction with organizational members, and even clinical interaction. The personal health record provides a new virtual organizational setting for these activities, yet further research is needed to identify its impact. In 2003, the Veterans Administration of the U.S. government introduced a web-based personal health record to complement traditional services, improve co-managed care, and empower patients and their families. The My HealtheVet portal enables veterans to create and maintain a robust personal health record that includes access to trusted patient health education information, a comprehensive personal health journal, and additional features. This paper provides a review of the growing body of literature on personal health records and identifies salient research questions related to the impact of this new setting on the patient-organization connection.