ePatient, Social Networking, and Personal Health Records

The use of electronic personal health records (PHRs) can enable physicians to easily share patient information, as well as for patients to keep complete records of their own health histories. When used correctly, it can be useful to reduce the risk of allergic interactions, misremembered diagnoses, and ensure seamless accuracy. In contrast to electronic health records (EHR), PHRs also contain information provided by patients as well as provider data (Roehrs, et al., 2017). Unfortunately, this can result in a conflict if the patient does not want a provider to see all of the information he or she has recorded in a particular entry. A patient who has seen a mental health clinician for anxiety may be concerned about being treated in a prejudiced fashion by another clinician, and have pain or other issues dismissed as being all in the patients head.

There are also concerns how patients may not be the most qualified individuals to self-diagnose or remember particular reactions or conditions. A patient might genuinely believe he or she had an allergic reaction to aspirin, even though the rash reported merely coincided with taking the common painkiller. More nefariously, a patient might claim to be allergic to vaccines out of a desire to avoid taking one, even though no allergy occurred.

Greater patient control over data does not necessarily enhance accuracy if the patient self-monitoring is not in good faith, or even if patients simply have poor health literacy. Patients may also not fully understand the extent to which they do not control or can limit privacy under the law. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you (Romans 12:3, NIV). But, despite these factors, there are still significant arguments in favor of offering patients a sense of autonomy and control over their data. Also, patients can have the opportunity to contest clinical omissions.

Reference

Roehrs, A., da Costa, C. A., Righi, R. D., & de Oliveira, K. S. (2017). Personal health records: A systematic literature review.Journal of medical Internet research,19(1), e13. Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5251169/

Romans. (2021). NIV. Bible Gateway. Retrieved from: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A3&version=NIV