Online system stores health records

Feb. 1, 2007 -- Is your vital health information in a doctor's office, a file cabinet, a stack of stuff at home or all of the above? In an emergency, could someone quickly access complete, up-to-date information?

A new electronic personal health-record program called myHealthFolders allows individuals to organize, store and retrieve personal health information for themselves and family members using a secure Web-based program. The service — at www.myHealthFolders.com — is available at no cost to University benefits-eligible faculty and staff.

"In order to manage our own health care, it is important to keep good records," said Ann B. Prenatt, vice chancellor for human resources. "Many of us are also responsible for keeping track of medical information such as appointments, prescriptions and contact information for children and elderly parents. MyHealthFolders is a free tool that faculty and staff members can use to easily track and access this important information from any computer with Internet access."

Members can use myHealthFolders to print updated medical reports to bring to physician appointments. Members also can print an emergency wallet card, giving emergency medical personnel immediate access to medical history, medications, and physician and family contacts through the Internet.

The value of myHealthFolders is largely dependent on the amount and quality of the information entered. Gathering the medical records and personal health information for each family member might be the most time-consuming part of the process. But once the information is entered, there is a permanent record of health information that can be accessed anywhere in the world.

Personal information will not be accessed by BJC HealthCare, insurance companies or the University and will not be used for any type of research or marketing. Like other medical records, the information in myHealthFolders is subject to the federal privacy provisions of the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act and will be protected accordingly.

For more information, call the Office of Human Resources at 935-5990.