services such as drug-drug interaction checking, electronic messaging between patients and providers, managing appointments, and reminders. Benefits PHRs grant patients access to a wide range of health information sources, best medical practices, and health knowledge. All of an individual’s medical records are stored in one place instead of paper-based files in various doctors’ offices. Upon encountering a medical condition, a patient can better access test results, communicate with their doctors, and share information with others suffering similarly. Moreover, PHRs can benefit clinicians. PHRs offer patients the opportunity to submit their data to their clinicians' EHRs. This may help clinicians make better treatment decisions by providing more continuous data, resulting in improved efficiency in care. However, some physicians may have concerns about patient-entered information and its accuracy, as well as whether the added patient engagement creates more reimbursable work. PHRs have the potential to help analyze an individual’s health profile and identify health threats and improvement opportunities based on an analysis of drug interaction, current best medical practices, gaps in current medical care plans, and identification of medical errors. Patient illnesses can be tracked in conjunction with healthcare providers, and early interventions can be promoted upon encountering deviation of health status. PHRs also make it easier for clinicians to care for their patients by facilitating continuous communication as opposed to episodic. Eliminating communication barriers and allowing documentation flow between patients and clinicians in a timely fashion can save time consumed by face-to-face meetings and telephone communication. Improved communication can also ease the process for patients and caregivers to ask questions, to set up appointments, to request refills and referrals, and to report problems. Accessing their own records can also empower patients to actively manage their health conditions. With the availability of healthcare data PHR enables health providers to response quickly. Additionally, in the case of an emergency a PHR can quickly provide critical information to proper diagnosis or treatment. Architecture Like other health information technology, PHR architecture can be roughly organized into three main components: Data The information collected, stored, analyzed, and exchanged by the PHR. Examples: medical history, laboratory results, imaging studies, medications Infrastructure The platform that handles data storage, processing, and exchange. Examples: stand-alone software programs or websites, provider- or payer-connected (tethered) websites Applications The information exchange, data analysis, and content delivery capabilities of the system. Examples: scheduling appointments, medication refill or renewal, decision aids, and patient education materials.