Review of National-Level Personal Health Records in Advanced Countries

Abstract

Objectives: This review article examines international examples of personal health records (PHRs) in advanced countriesand discusses the implications of these examples for the establishment and utilization of PHRs in South Korea. Methods:This article synthesized PHR case reports of Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) membercountries, the Global Digital Health Partnership website on PHRs, and patient portals of individual countries to review thestatus of PHR services. The concept and significance of PHRs were also discussed with respect to PHR utilization status inEuropean Union and OECD countries. Results: A review of international PHR services showed that the countries sharedcommon points regarding the establishment of Electronic Health Records and national health information infrastructure. Inaddition, the countries provided services centered on primary healthcare institutions and public hospitals. However, promotingmore positive participation and increasing the PHR acceptance rate requires workflow integration, including ElectronicMedical Records, the provision of incentives, and the preparation of a supportive legal framework. Conclusions: South Koreais also conducting a national-level PHR project. Since the scope of PHRs is extensive and a wide range of PHR services mustbe connected, an extensive trial-and-error process will be necessary. A long-term strategy should be prepared, and necessaryresources should be secured to establish national-level PHRs.