ONC Developing Online Project To Educate Consumers About PHRs

ONC Developing Online Project To Educate Consumers About PHRs

Government Health IT reports that the the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) is developing an online model containing information for consumers about personal health records (PHRs) and the privacy policies related to their use. ONC's effort appears targeted at engaging consumer to make more informed decisions about the use of PHRs.

The Office of the Secretary for HHS issued a notice of Agency Information Collection Request and 30 day Comment Request, 74 Federal Register 24012 (May 22, 2009), providing details of the proposed project.

If others have additional information on this project -- please leave a comment.

The abstract in the Federal Register notice states:
A new health information technology, the personal health record (PHR), seeks to provide consumers with the capability to directly manage their own health information. Although PHRs can exist in different formats or media (i.e., paper or electronic), the term usually refers to an online record containing an individual’s personal health information. PHRs typically include information such as health history, vaccinations, allergies, test results, and prescription information. Given the newness of the electronic PHR concept, the different ways to establish PHRs, and the sensitivity of personal health information, ONC is taking steps to establish that useful facts about PHRs and PHR privacy policy information be made available to consumers so they can make informed decisions about selecting and using PHRs. Toward this end, ONC has a project to develop an online model for PHR providers.

The model will be developed to:

› Allow presentation of important PHR facts and policies to consumers,

› Allow consumers to understand and consistently compare PHR service provider policies with others, and

› Focus on the key information that may influence decisions and choices of PHR service provider.

The project includes iterative rounds of in-depth consumer testing during April–October 2009 to assess and analyze consumer understanding and input about the model. The model will be iteratively revised to design a final template that will allow PHR vendors to convey useful and understandable facts to consumers about their privacy, security, and information management policies. Testing will be conducted in six locations that cover the four geographic census regions and will include 90-minute, one-on-one, cognitive usability interviews with six to seven participants at each of six sites, for a total not to exceed 42 interviews. In addition, each participant will have been recruited through a 15-minute screening interview. The participants will be recruited according to U.S. census statistics for race/ethnicity, age, marital status, gender, and income. Also, the sample will include participants both familiar and unfamiliar with PHRs and participants who manage chronic health issues or a disease for themselves or others.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

  • Health Care Reform Explained from B... Dan Roam at the Back of the Napkin Blog sums up the current health care reform effort in this four part health care series, Healthcare Napkins All. Great back of the...
  • Why We Need A Health Care Revolutio... Dr. Val Jones' road to revolution provides her personal perspective on the current state of our health care system and why we all need to work for change.Don't miss the...
  • The important lesson from sandcastl... As I return to West Virginia after a week spent at the beach -- this post by Jim Carrol, Futurist, Trends & Innovation Expert, caught my attention. Much of my week on...
  • A little Nick: I'm a liberal an... Law blogger posts online: Don't miss reading this post by my favorite hospital blogging CEO, Nick Jacobs over at Nick's Blog. Much of what Nick has to say strikes a chord with me and this post is...
  • Executive Order Impacts Health Care... Law blogger posts online: President Bush signed an Executive Order on August 22 requiring federal agencies to do more to inform public health care consumers about the cost and quality of health...
  • eHealthWV: West Virginia EHR Public... Law blogger posts online: As a part of West Virginia's participation in the Health Information Security and Privacy Collaborative (HISPC), West Virginia Medical Institute and its partners launch...
  • Physicians vs. Patient: Rating-Perm... Interesting post from the WSJ Health Blog on Medical Justice's new ratings-permission contracts (press release on service).This new service offered by Medical Justice...
  • Just when you thought it was safe: ... Law blogger posts online: I’ve blogged previously about just how much I hate browser toolbars and nothing much has changed in the four years that have passed. Call me nosey, but when I’m...
  • Governor Manchin Approves Cardiac C...The West Virginia Health Care Authority website indicates today that Governor Manchin approved the final revised certificate of need Cardiac Catheterization Standards.
  • A Law Actually Interview with… Litt... Next up in the interview chair is Gemma from Little Tiny Pieces. Little Tiny Pieces is an interesting name?  What it inspired it; does it have any hidden meanings?...
  • Let the voting commence!... Law blogger posts online: Yes, after two long weeks of nominations, the shortlist for the 2010 Blawggies has been decided and voting for the awards can officially begin! The polls will remain...
  • Is blogging good for your health?... Law blogger posts online: Is blogging good for your health?This Boston Globe article, Cancer blogs become part of treatment, indicates that blogging about your condition has a positive impact.The...
  • ADVANCE Magazine - Article on EHRs ... Recently I was interviewed for an article looking at the legal issues involved in the developing world of EHRs and PHRs written by Beth Walsh for ADVANCE Magazine. The...