HealthATM: personal health cyberinfrastructure for underserved populations.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Patient Engagement
• Underserved Populations

Background:

• Personal health record (PHR) systems offer potential for enhancing health self-management in underserved communities.
• Empowering patients through PHRs can lead to more active participation in managing their health needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the potential of a cyberinfrastructure-based PHR in promoting patient activation.
• To assess the population health implications of utilizing PHR technology.

Main Methods:

• A multi-phased, iterative research approach was employed to design and evaluate the HealthATM PHR system.
• The HealthATM system integrated cloud computing services into an ATM-style interface for broad health consumer access.

Main Results:

• 115 patients from free clinics in Los Angeles County evaluated the HealthATM PHR.
• A majority perceived ease of use (74%) and confidence (73%), expressing intent for frequent use (73%).
• Patients believed in personal health responsibility but struggled with maintaining life changes.

Conclusions:

• PHRs can serve as valuable health management tools for underserved populations.
• For effectiveness in safety-net communities, PHRs require technical accessibility and meaningful patient engagement opportunities.