| Ownership | Owned and managed by the individual patient. | Owned and managed by healthcare providers, clinics, or healthcare organizations. |
| Purpose | Primarily designed for patients to maintain their health information and track personal health. | Designed for healthcare providers to store and manage patient medical records and treatment information. |
| Accessibility | Accessible to the patient and can be shared with healthcare providers as desired. | Accessible to authorized healthcare professionals within the same healthcare organization. |
| Data Entry | Information is entered and updated by the patient, including medical history, medications, allergies, and self-reported health data. | Information is entered and updated by healthcare providers, including diagnosis, treatment plans, test results, and clinical notes. |
| Scope | Typically includes a comprehensive view of the patient's health history, including non-clinical data such as lifestyle choices and wellness activities. | Focuses primarily on clinical and medical data, often lacking non-clinical information or personal health tracking features. |
| Portability | Patients can carry their PHR with them and access it from various devices and locations. | Typically confined to the healthcare organization's systems and may not be easily portable between providers. |
| Control | Patients have control over who can access their PHR and can grant or revoke access as needed. | Access control is typically managed by the healthcare organization or provider, with limited patient control. |
| Integration | May integrate data from various sources, including healthcare providers, wearables, and self-reported information. | Focuses on integration with healthcare provider systems and interoperability within the organization. |
| Use Cases | Patient engagement, personal health tracking, sharing information with multiple providers, and managing one's health. | Clinical documentation, treatment planning, billing, and coordination of care among healthcare providers. |
| Legal and Privacy | Subject to patient consent and privacy regulations, with patients often having the right to access and amend their records. | Governed by healthcare regulations, including HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), to protect patient privacy and data security. |
| Examples | Popular PHR platforms include Microsoft HealthVault, Google Health, and patient portals offered by healthcare providers. | Common EMR systems include Epic, Cerner, and Allscripts, used by healthcare organizations and providers |
