What’s the Difference Between Patient Portals and Personal Health Records?

Healthcare providers are using patient portals and personal health records to help improve the quality of care they provide. Patient portals enable patients to communicate with their healthcare provider online, while personal health records store a patient’s medical history electronically.

One of the main differences between these two solutions is that any healthcare provider can access a personal health record. In contrast, a patient portal may only be available for use at one specific practice or hospital. This article will explore how patient portals and personal health records differ.

Difference Between Patient Portals and Personal Health Records

One of the main differences between a medical patient portal and personal health records is that a patient portal may only be available for use at one specific practice or hospital. In contrast, a PHR can be accessed by any healthcare provider across multiple practices or hospitals. Patients will be able to better coordinate their care with their various doctors as a result of this.

Another difference is that information in a personal health record is encrypted, which means that unauthorized users cannot read it. However, patient portals do not use encryption technology and can therefore be accessed by anyone with the appropriate login credentials.

Benefits of Using Both Types of Medical Record Systems

  1. Patients can view their schedule and health information, request prescriptions online. They are more in control of their healthcare.

  2. Patients can communicate with their healthcare providers online. Moreover, it is easy to coordinate care with multiple physicians using a personal health record.

  3. Patients can access their information from any place with an internet connection. They do not have to carry around a paper file and risk misplacing it or forgetting where they put it.

Which One to Use?

If you are wondering how to get patients to sign up for your medical patient portal, then all you have to do in the end is explain to them the medical record system and its benefits. It is crucial to weigh the pros and cons of each option before making a final decision. You can help your patients choose the best solution for you by learning the differences between patient portals and personal health records.

To Conclude

Patient portals and personal health records offer different but complementary ways for patients to manage their healthcare. You may even contact a professional to learn about the solutions & benefits of a healthcare organization so that you can choose the option that best meets your needs.