Rural Personal Health Records
As Patient Citizens access disparate services from multiple providers, it can become increasingly difficult to access or manage one’s own medical information. This is especially true for rural patients who often access healthcare services virtually or in other communities. A Personal Health Record aspires to enable patients to easily access and manage their medical records, placing them at the centre of their health journey. The Rural Personal Health Record (RPHR) project puts rural communities at the core of Personal Health Record development in British Columbia (BC). RPHR is working with rural communities to create a technical roadmap and real-life working prototype for Personal Health Records. This will ensure rural patients and communities are better positioned to participate in their own healthcare stories.
Laid the groundwork for RPHR to develop a technical roadmap in three prototype communities in rural BC
Began developing a community engagement process for RPHR and engaged potential partners
Looking ahead
2020–2021 was a year of foundational growth for RPHR. The Program united the ideas and talents of Rural Coordiantion Centre of BC employees, contract workers, subject matter experts, and highly motivated family practitioners. The RPHR team focused the Project’s goals and readied it to start working with technical and policy stakeholders on the creation of a technical roadmap. Simultaneously, RPHR began engaging with rural patient citizens and practitioners in Valemount and exploring engagement partnerships in two other prototype communities.
Throughout the year, RPHR also developed concrete plans for a “Design Lab” community engagement process in Valemount. The team additionally held productive discussions with stakeholders in Fort Nelson and the Kootenay Boundary to determine their interest in partnering with RCCbc on the Project.
Looking ahead to a post-COVID era, RPHR will explore opportunities to bring stakeholders together in person to co-create Personal Health Records. The opportunity to meet face-to-face will foster connections and relationships and be of tremendous benefit to the Program.
How have we shown or built resilience in BC during a challenging year?
“Our health information should follow us. I am most invested in the accuracy of my health information. We are working to connect people horizontally in community, and vertically with leadership, to make this work for everyone in BC, including rural people and providers.”
Dr. Ray Markham
Project Co-sponsor, Personal Health Records, RCCbcTeam Members: Jess Rothenburger
Some Related Areas
-
Rural Site Visits Project
Click to Read More
-
Transport
Click to Read More
-
Rural Physician Research Support Project
Click to Read More
