Another Online PHR to Avoid

PHR = Personal Health Record -- a great idea. Tracking your medical history, including health challenges, treatments received, even blood types, test results and the drugs and supplements you take. Any organization of your medical records is a great idea.

Using your computer makes plenty of sense, too. You can take your own notes, or keep a journal. You can scan copies of test reports or meeting notes from your doctor's appointments. You can even keep scanned copies of bills, insurance reports, and more. There are freely downloadable applications that can be quite useful, or you can use a word processor and scanning software already resident on your computer.

What is NOT a good idea is to put that information out on the internet for everyone and his brother to see -- and that's precisely what happens when you use one of the online PHR (personal health records) applications. You'll find them disguised as free services, free storage for your medical information. They are available in a number of places on the internet including Microsoft, Revolution Health, even Google is getting ready to launch a PHR application.

Why is it a bad idea? If you value your privacy, if you don't want anyone else accessing your records, if you think you may ever need to purchase health insurance, or even life insurance, if you dislike spam and/or postal junk mail, then it's a bad idea. There is no privacy for these records, even if it appears there is. Just read their privacy statements, or the terms you agree to when you sign up. (Their privacy statements should be called "No Privacy Statements.")

The new one I heard about is actually a useful website in disguise. It's called Caring for Cancer and it invites its visitors to set up an account, which allows them access to the online PHR, plus message boards and other information. While some of the information you can get from the site might be valuable, it's freely found throughout the internet, including here at About.com -- except that you are required to provide all kinds of personal information to Caring for Cancer if you'd like to obtain it there. A look behind the scenes reveals its statement that it is not required to be HIPAA complaint -- meaning your information can be shared with anyone they care to share it with. Caring for Cancer is owned and presented by a company called P4 Healthcare, whose stated mission is to "increase efficiencies for Physicians, Patients, Pharmaceutical companies, and Payers." It's quite clear who will pay the price for those efficiencies.

Please don't misunderstand. I believe that an empowered patient finds and participates in every possible supportive opportunity available to him or her. There's plenty of good information on the internet, including at the Caring for Cancer website.

What I object to is duping patients into believing that they are participating for free when, in fact, that participation comes at the expense of their personal information and privacy.