Health informatics — Personal health records — Definition, scope and context

This Technical Report defines a personal health record (PHR). This definition is intended to help clarify the

kinds of records that should be called PHRs, in recognition of the lack of consistency in how this term is

presently used. This Technical Report considers the PHR from the perspective of the personal information

contained within it and the core services needed to manage this information.

A PHR is not a singular entity; the concept encompasses a spectrum of possible information repositories

and services that meet different purposes consistent with the definition. This Technical Report therefore also

discusses the scope of the PHR in terms of this spectrum as a series of dimensions by which a PHR may

be classified and equivalent PHR products compared. It also includes one dimension to classify the kinds of

collaborative care PHRs provided by healthcare organizations.

This Technical Report also considers the wider context of engagement of individuals in the management of

their own health and healthcare, since this engagement is the primary driver for present-day growth of PHR

systems and services internationally.

This Technical Report includes:

— a definition of a