Benefits of Using Technology

Personal Health Records/Patient Portals

There are so many benefits to learning how to safely use and contribute to personal health records. You can track your own progress toward healthy goals like working toward weight-loss, lowering your blood pressure, controlling your blood glucose levels, exercising more, or making changes in your diet or sleep routine. An online presence can mean easy and cheap or even free access to health information and knowledge is power! If you live far from the library or don't want to pay for a doctor's visit for a simple question, you can learn to find accurate information online. Your doctor should still be informed and involved with all medical related changes to ensure your safety, but the use of trusted online resources can help support you, too. You can organize and keep all your health information in one place online, so you don't have to carry around a folder (or a file cabinet for some!) and risk losing information. Plus, you'll be able to access the information anywhere there is internet.

Security and Confidentiality

Remember to not disclose your personal health information to any website. You need to protect this information the same as you would your financial information. Your personal health information is protected by law, and you only want to share your information with sites that abide by these laws and have your best interest in mind.

To learn more about those protection laws visit the following site:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/

At the office of your primary care provider, you might be able to get set up with a system that their office uses and trusts. Call and ask what you might need (like you would before driving to the DMV) in order to set up an account. Many doctor's offices now have places online where you can safely view recent labs results, upcoming appointments and even interact with your doctor and his nurses.