How to create a personal health record

A personal record allows an individual to gather all his or her medical information and keep it in one place, usually in an electronic format, so that it can be used for future health-care decisions.

Personal health records can help centralize information when it is scattered among different health care providers and can make it readily available in an emergency or when you're away from home.

Personal health records can be set up on paper, online, on your computer, or on a portable device like a CD or flash drive.

Consumers can set up their PHRs through commercial companies, nonprofit organizations, hospitals, employers or health insurance companies. One such form is avilable at http://www.myphr.com/your_record/free_forms.asp

To get started, submit applications for release of your medical information from your doctor and other health-care providers and your insurance company.

A personal health record should include the following:

•Name, birth date, address, blood type and emergency contact names and contact information for doctors, dentists and other caregivers

•Health insurance information

•Living will and advance directive

•Organ donor authorization

•Records of a recent physical examination

•Immunizations and dates

•Results of tests and screenings

• Major illnesses and surgeries, with dates

• Medications, dosages and how long you've taken them

• Allergies

• Chronic illnesses

• History of illness or hereditary conditions in your family

• Eye and dental records

•Permission forms for release of information

Sources: National Institutes of Health, American Health Information Management Association.