Your Doctor's Office or the Internet? Two Paths to Personal Health Records

Mary is 68 years old, has four chronic conditions, takes seven medications, and averages 12 visits per year to her six physicians. In between visits, she spends a lot of time on the telephone with them or their staff — making appointments, requesting prescription renewals and referrals, seeking test results, and asking questions that she forgot to bring up in person. Physicians' offices are becoming overwhelmed by the tasks and time required to address the needs of patients like Mary. As the baby boomers age and develop chronic diseases, the gap between patients' desire for information and physicians' ability to . . .