Note, this request is also cross-posted on the Chilmark Research Blog.

I have the distinct honor of being moderated by John Moore of Chilmark Research, as part of participation on a panel discussion entitled, “Personal Health Records: What Are They Good For?” which will take place at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s Annual 2009 Conference, September 14, 2009, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm.

Prior to the era of social media, the moderator and participants for a panel like this would get together on a phone call and figure out what they were going to speak about, and then provide the information during the discussion that they wanted to.

Actually, even in the era of social media they still do that.

To think a little differently, I asked John if he wouldn’t mind suggesting some questions on his mind as an expert in the field, and then if we could crowdsource these with a broader audience (John said yes to this request!).

That’s what this blog post is for.

So first, brief description of what the session is intended to cover:

In recent years, health care providers, insurers, purchasers, and technology companies have launched personal health record (PHR) initiatives. This interactive panel discussion will provide insight on the PHR marketplace, adoption levels, and the goals and impacts of their use.

Next, these are the very thoughtful questions that John came up with. In the comments below, feel free to

• Let me/us know which ones are of greatest interest to you,
• Suggest others that we haven’t thought of,
• Provide any answers you have from your own work in the field (we want to share leadership in all parts of our care system)
• Provide any general comments

Thank you for your help with this – The goal is to share information that’s as close to what the audience is looking for (audience-centered care). After all, we are doing what we do so that every patient in every care system benefits.

(questions from John Moore below)

Following are questions that have been swirling abut in my head re: adoption



What is the breakdown of populations/demographics that actually use the KP PHR?

Is it just the worried well, or Mothers?

Are their any conclusions that can be drawn?

To what extent due specific sub-groups use, or not use the PHR, e.g. are there any racial or socio/economic disparities?

What is KP doing today to minimize disparities and insure broader participation?

What about Chronic Disease grps?

Has KP found that certain chronic disease lend themselves to greater PHR use?

If yes, what are they?

Reflect on the role of the physician in encouraging adoption and use of a PHR?

Does consumer use require a a lot of guidance and encouragement?

What tricks as KP learned along the way to encourage broader adoption and use?

How has KP embedded the use of PHRs into physician workflow and driven adoption and use by the physician (that is assuming that KP allows the pt to add comments/notes to their PHR)?

The transition from acute to outpatient care is fraught with challenges and data drops. How has KP used the PHR to minimize such?

And on a related note, how does the KP PHR accept clinical data from systems outside of the KP network (not sure it even does that today).

Since the title of this session is PHRs, What Are They Good For, will need you and James to circle back to some of the broader attributes of PHRs to practice, behavioral change & improved outcomes. No need to mention such things as 25% fewer offices visits as this will kill of most practices.)

Trust that is enough to get you started and I may think of a few more …..