Personal Health Records

Do you remember when your last immunization was? Or the last time you had an X-ray? Unless you’ve had the same healthcare provider since birth, it can be difficult to keep track of years of doctor’s appointments, procedures or surgeries. Microsoft’s HealthVault or Google Health’s online personal storage units can be an easy solution.

Keeping track of medical records in an online database is an efficient way to stay organized and make informed decisions about the health and wellness of you and your family.

Both online tools are private and free, unless you choose to share information with friends and relatives – a capability on both sites. They also offer the opportunity to digitize your records, keep track of prescription drugs and manage fitness and weight goals.

Google Health’s focus is more of a portal for storing information and tracking one’s daily statistics: blood pressure, weight (body mass index) and pedometer calculations, to name a few. It also offers a place to store your health insurance policy numbers, coverage dates and contact information of insurers. Microsoft’s HealthVault has sponsored “Health Tools” on their Welcome page to guide users to health information. There is a breadth of links to other healthcare resources to help manage your online profile. In the end, both have similar functionalities, so a final decision may depend simply on functionality.

Both tools allow you to take control of your health needs by allowing you to easily access important documents and track your body’s physical health over time. Be in charge of your healthcare, be an advocate for yourself, and for your family.