HDM Reports on Federal Preparation
Joseph Goedert of HealthData Management reported on May 22, 2009 “The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is developing a model, or template, to enable personal health records vendors to better inform consumers about privacy, security and information management policies. ” Notice was published in the Federal Register.

Federal Register Excerpt
Proposed Project: Facts for Consumers about Health IT Service
Providers–OMB No. 0990-NEW–OS/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
Abstract: A new health information technology, the personal health
record (PHR), seeks to provide consumers with the capability to
directly manage their own health information. Although PHRs can exist
in different formats or media (i.e., paper or electronic), the term
usually refers to an online record containing an individual’s personal
health information. PHRs typically include information such as health
history, vaccinations, allergies, test results, and prescription
information. Given the newness of the electronic PHR concept, the
different ways to establish PHRs, and the sensitivity of personal
health information, ONC is taking steps to establish that useful facts
about PHRs and PHR privacy policy information be made available to
consumers so they can make informed decisions about selecting and using PHRs. Toward this end, ONC has a project to develop an online model for PHR providers. The model will be developed to:
    [dec221] Allow presentation of important PHR facts and policies to
consumers,
    [dec221] Allow consumers to understand and consistently compare PHR service provider policies with others, and
    [dec221] Focus on the key information that may influence decisions and choices of PHR service provider.
    The project includes iterative rounds of in-depth consumer testing during April-October 2009 to assess and analyze consumer understanding and input about the model. The model will be iteratively revised to design a final template that will allow PHR vendors to convey useful and understandable facts to consumers about their privacy, security, and information management policies. Testing will be conducted in six locations that cover the four geographic census regions and will include 90-minute, one-on-one, cognitive usability interviews with six to seven participants at each of six sites, for a total not to exceed 42 interviews. In addition, each participant will have been recruited through a 15-minute screening interview. The participants will be recruited according to U.S.census statistics for race/ethnicity, age, marital status, gender, and income. Also, the sample will include participants both familiar and unfamiliar with PHRs and participants who manage chronic health issues or a disease for themselves or others.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-12023.htm
Citation:
[Federal Register: May 22, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 98)]
[Notices]              
[Page 24012-24013]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22my09-58]