Pros: The Empire Blue My Health Record is an online tool designed to help Blue Cross and Blue Shield members store and organize all health-related information in a cloud-based, secure environment. Members are offered two ways to update their files: (1) automated and (2) manual. Interface is user-friendly and allows collaborative sharing of medical data between patients and healthcare providers. A secure messaging feature allows patients to communicate with their doctor right from the interface. Your doctor can also add notes to your entries. Because My Health Record is part of Empire Blue’s services to its members, it helps streamline medical claims processes.

Cons: Although the service is free, the My Health Record PHR tool is available to Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield members only. If users change insurance companies, their access to the service is blocked.

The Bottomline: My Health Record is a basic personal health record tool designed for exclusive use by Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield members. Non-members have to review other PHR systems in the market. Though the My Health Record program has no outstanding features or tools, the well-designed interface allows easy coordination between patients and healthcare providers.

Editor’s Rating: (3 out o 5)

Reviewed on August 21, 2011

Summary:
Empire Blue My Health Record is a complete personal health record service created by insurance giants Empire Blue Cross and Blue Shield. The PHR tool, which is part of Empire’s 360° Health program, allows patients to store, organize, and consolidate their medical histories, prescription and medication information, and test results in one, readily accessible Location Sharing interface. It allows patients to have a more active role in planning their wellness and health. This also allows doctors to remotely monitor their patient’s health and help with the planning of their treatments. The information can be incorporated into the member’s insurance claims data.



Features:
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Two Entry Options
Members can opt to populate the PHR fields on their own, or authorize Blue Cross Blue Shield to automatically fill their health record using their insurance claim data.

Data Sharing Interface
Patients can share their information with their healthcare providers electronically. The physician simply needs to log in to the Empire Blue website to view patient updates.

Health Record Summary
The health record summary can be printed out and brought with the patient to the next hospital visit. Patients can also fax the summary or share it electronically with their physician.



My Health Record
The health record interface has individual pages for medical conditions, medications, allergies, surgeries, immunizations, tests, and hospital visits.

Messaging System
This feature allows patients and doctors to communicate with each other in real time. Using this system, members can send email messages or updates to their doctors. Doctors can also add notations to a member’s health record.

Health Articles
Within the Conditions page, users will find links to articles about health conditions. This feature is integrated to help patients understand certain diseases better and how to manage them.

Find a Doctor
This is a search feature that allows members to locate their doctor. Search is narrowed using two categories: Doctor and Hospital.