June 20, 2007 — Medical Mutual of Ohio will collaborate with its 23,000 physician network to promote the use of iHealth, an online personal health record (PHR) to its 1.6 million members.
Many health plans have rolled out online PHR services without involving physicians but patient uptake has been low; typically below one percent. Some health plans have even started paying their members to fill out an online PHR. Medical Mutual chose to collaborate with their network physicians using the trusted doctor-patient relationship to encourage the use of PHRs.
Through the interactive online PHR service, iHealth, Medical Mutual members can create secure, transportable online personal health records for themselves and other members of their family. They will own and control these PHRs for life, even if they move, change doctors or insurers. The PHR can be accessed at any time, including emergencies, and can be shared with their doctors, pharmacists, health insurance companies, family members or other providers.
The iHealth service will also connect members online to their own doctors, their own health data and to Medical Mutual of Ohio. Patients will be enrolled automatically in their online PHR simply by registering for an appointment with their providers since the iHealth service replaces the medical clipboard for office registration.
Medical Mutual members will have access to their PHR by logging on to the My Health Plan portal on the company's Web site, www.MedMutual.com, or, if available, through the Web site of their doctor. To provide even more flexibility, members will also be able to access iHealth through the iHealth Web site.
For more information: www.ihealthrecord.com
