RCCbc | Rural Coordination Centre of BC » Rural Personal Health Record (PHR)

Accessible Health Information to Improve Better Quality Care

A rural Personal Health Record (PHR) is a holistic and integrated electronic health system that allows people and those who support them to access and manage their information so they can better manage their health and wellness. Having a rural PHR that links patients’ health information is key to improving quality care in British Columbia – even if you move, change providers, or travel to a different jurisdiction. Along with our partners, the Rural Coordination Centre of BC is advocating for the development and implementation of a rural PHR across British Columbia.

Why advocate for Rural Personal Health Record?

People access services from multiple providers and their health information is not always shared across services. This is especially true for rural patients who often access healthcare services virtually or in other communities. A robust rural PHR will allow people to access and manage their own medical information.

Benefits of PHR for Rural People

Records could enable people to:

better manage and take greater interest in managing their health;
become better positioned to access care, understand risks, interact with their health providers, improve their health literacy;
grant access to their information to family members, caregivers and providers;
facilitate partnerships and create a team-based care plan;
have their information travel with them to prevent errors and gaps when information may not seamlessly flow between different providers and health authorities

What are the next steps?

Rural PHRs are currently in the early stages of development. By engaging directly with providers and patients and with system partners more broadly, RCCbc is working to amplify rural voices while advocating for an open, standards-based and community driven PHR. This will help ensure that rural patients and communities are better positioned to participate in their own healthcare stories.