Personal Health Record (PHR)

Alere’s Personal Health Record (PHR) is a component of the Alere Health Portal that allows individuals to create a completely confidential online personal health record where they can store their healthcare data in one place. The PHR provides your participants with the tools necessary to help manage and improve their health.

The Personal Health Record gives participants control of their own health information.

Participants enter, update and track their personal health information, including medical and disease history, medication use, allergies, preventive screenings, immunization history and family medical history. Participants also use the PHR to track their healthcare providers, insurers and pharmacies and receive healthcare reminders, such as proactive alerts for routine tests and check-ups.

Other examples of information participants may wish to store include habits related to exercise or diet, their level and sources of stress, or their use of herbals or dietary supplements. If participants have diabetes, for example, they may store data regarding periodic glucose and A1C levels. If participants have high blood pressure, they may store ongoing measures of their blood pressure.

A personal health record allows participants to:

  • Search and discover answers to health questions
  • Confidentially store information regarding their own health and act on the information to improve their health
  • Share information from the PHR with their physicians to avoid duplicate tests or medications that could have adverse side effects
  • Inform new healthcare providers about their health history
  • Store personal health data, lab results or recommendations obtained from doctor visits
  • Monitor and track their incentive points earned from participating in health promotion programs
  • Upload health-related data from numerous biometric digital devices, such as blood pressure cuffs, heart rate monitors and blood glucose monitors
  • Receive faster and safer care during emergencies
  • And more…

Data gathered by users is secured against theft and loss through Alere’s optimized security platform, and users can designate accessibility by either a physician, hospital or other healthcare provider. 

The PHR places the patient at the center of the healthcare system by giving them control of their own health information. A personal health record enables your participants to become better consumers of healthcare services and partners with each of their healthcare providers, which results in improved care and lower healthcare costs.

Study Links Health
and Productivity

Health-related productivity losses combined with direct medical spending were found to cost $4 to every $1 of direct medical expenses in the study “Health and Productivity as a Business Strategy,” published in the July 2007 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (JOEM). Learn more.

What’s Driving Participation in HRAs?

According to a study published in August 2008, the top factors are the monetary value of incentives, strong, effective communications and organizational commitment. The study, “Incentives and Other Factors Associated with Employee Participation in Health Risk Assessments,” was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Order a copy of the article.