Earlier today had a post on the HDM online quick survey showing early results that PHRs are definitely coming – at least that is what those in the healthcare IT (HIT) sector believe.
Further adding validation to the HDM quick poll are the results of an online survey that the Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS) sponsored in April, which were just released. Like the HDM survey, one can assume that the vast majority of respondents to the HIMSS survey also came from the HIT community.
Results from this survey of 675 respondents include:
- Nearly 50% believe Privacy/Security issues are the biggest hurdle to adoption. This may be an issue but as I have said before, personally believe this is a red herring. The big issue is for PHR vendors to actually deliver a solution that is more valuable than a simple online repository for my records.
- A whopping 92% believe that the consumer should own the PHR. Hmm, wonder if that also includes controlling access and portability?
- Not too surprising, over three quarters believe that a PHR should be integrated to an EMR to deliver higher value in treatment. Something I’m in full agreement with and early studies on PHR adoption have borne-out.
- Nearly 50% see the entry of Google and Microsoft giving a big lift to PHR adoption. Just look at all the press these two have generated already! At the recent WHCC event that I attended, this was one of the top subjects being discussed in the hallways.
Yes, people are talking. Yes, this will raise visibility on the whole PHR topic. Now what we need to see are some real results in strong user growth and adoption of PHRs. WebMD’s modest forecast last week during their 1st Qtr call of 10% growth is nothing to write home about so we’ll have to look to other PHR vendors. Will Google Health light the fire?
“Nearly 50% believe Privacy/Security issues are the biggest hurdle to adoption. This may be an issue but as I have said before, personally believe this is a red herring”
All the polls done with real users (and not technologists) show that privacy is the main concern.
The question is: Why do the PHRs companies ask for your name or email? do they need it for giving a service?
Why not a anonymous personal health record as keyose.com?
A identified PHR is like a liflong mortage!
http://blog.keyose.com/2008/05/13/a-identified-phr-is-like-a-lifelong-mortage/
Dr Bonis,
Finally decided to let this comment slip through, but do encourage you in the future to talk about the issues without the veiled advertising (which I have done to a number of your posts in the past).
Valid questions and maybe another vendor will chime in to answer/respond as to why they ask for this information.