Personal Health Record: A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic application used by patients to maintain and manage health information in a private, secure and confidential environment. PHRs:

• Are managed by patients.


• Can include information from a variety of sources, including health care providers and patient themselves


• Can help patients securely and confidentially store and monitor health information


• Are separate from, and do not replace, the legal record of any health care provider

(Personal Health Record. “Health IT.gov.” What Is a Personal Health Record? N.p., n.d. Web. 17 July 2014.)

Primary Care Provider: A healthcare practitioner who sees people that have common medical problems.

A PCP is your main healthcare provider in non-emergency situations. Your PCP’s role is to:

• Provide preventive care and teach healthy lifestyle choices


• Identify and treat common medical conditions


• Assess the urgency of your medical problems and direct you to the best place for that care


• Make referrals to medical specialists when necessary

(“Choosing a Primary Care Provider: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” U.S. National Library of Medicine., U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014.)

HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.