Health Informatics

Consumer Health Informatics

Think about health information for yourself and your extended network of family and friends. Discuss consumer health informatics touching on the following:
1) Does information flow in an efficient and effective consumer-centric way?  For example, do you have easy access to your own lab results, reports, appointments, immunizations, significant health history, prescriptions/refills online?  
2) Can and do you email your doctor?  
3) If you don't already access to your electronic health record, try setting up your own electronic personal health record or family health history https://familyhistory.hhs.gov or http://www.microsoft.com/healthvault
4) Share your perspectives on personal health records based on relevant readings from the textbook, videos, or other research in addition to personal experience with your own personal health record such as MyHealtheVet, Kaiser's My Health Manager, Blue Button, or Microsoft HealthVault. 
5) A new initiative is focusing on the health care consumer.  http://www.healthit.gov/patients-families  Take a look at this web site and share your perspectives on this website in your response.

Overall, Share your thoughts on the value of consumer engagement in health information and the various resources available to promote consumer engagement.