Frequently Asked Questions

The forms I get from the doctor are hard to figure out when I try to enter information into PHR. What should I do?
A simple form for recording visit information that will help you get the information you need from doctors' offices is available several places in PHR. To print this form, open Help from the PHR menu, click menu item "Personal Health Record Help", and open the Appendices to Appendix 1: Sample Form to Record Visit Information. This same form is located as an appendix in the PHR User Manual and as a link on your Personal Health Page, available through the Internet/Online Health Resources option. Take your visit information form to every office appointment and ask your doctor or nurse to identify your problems, related diagnostic tests, treatments, and medications as they discuss the visit with you. Because problem-oriented records are commonly used, this form will be familiar to healthcare providers and getting the information for it is about a two-minute task.

I've entered all the information I can remember about my family's health history in the Medical Details area, but now my six-year-old has an annual checkup. What is the best way to record this information?
Click the Visits and Hospitalizations tab. From the Office Visits and Hospitalizations Summary screen, click Add on the toolbar (or use the Insert key). The PHR Visits and Hospitalizations Assistant will guide you through entering the visit date, time, doctor's name, reason for visit, vital signs, and medical details related to the visit. Once you exit the Visit Assistant, your information will be automatically saved to your PHR. You can review and update the visit details from the Visit and Hospitalizations Summary screen by selecting the visit and clicking the "Visit Details" button.

The doctor said my son needs a booster shot in two months. Can I use PHR to make sure I remember to make an appointment?
Absolutely. The ideal way to do this is by setting a general reminder. Go to the Information tab. From the table listing, click your son's name. Next, click the Reminders button on the left. Click New (or use the Insert key) and fill in information listing a description of the reminder, doctor's name, priority, start and expire dates (from the date you want the reminder to begin appearing on your Active Reminders list to the date of the appointment), and any comments about the reminder. Now, whenever you check your reminders, the appointment will show on the table listing. To check details of the reminder, simply click the listing in the table. The information you have entered will be displayed in the fields on the right side of the screen. You may also check the box in the Auto column to set this as an autoreminder. Then the PHR Reminders application will remind you of this appointment whether or not PHR itself is running.

My mother takes a variety of medications for several conditions. How can I remember which medications were prescribed for which disorders?
PHR enables you to "attach" medications to the specific problems or conditions for which they were prescribed. To do this, first enter the conditions information using the Conditions button in the Visits and Hospitalizations tab or the Medical Details tab. Assuming you're using the Medical Details tab, next click the Medicines button on the left and select a medication. To the right of the list of medicines is a table with a list of current problems. Click on the correct problem in the Conditions and Problems table. A dot appears in the Conditions and Problems table to denote that the medication has been "attached" to the problem. A check mark appears on the CON column of the Current Medications list, indicating that there are conditions and/or problems associated with the medication.

Whenever I go to a new doctor, the form I am asked to fill out includes a family medical history, and I often don't remember all the details. Is there a way to store this information in PHR and bring it to the doctor's office with me?
Yes. Click the Information tab, and then click the Family History button on the left of the screen. Click the New button to begin adding information about family members, then type each person's name, date of birth and death (if applicable), health status, and cause of death (if applicable). Click to check any relevant medical conditions, and enter text comments as necessary. Once you have entered this information, simply return to this screen and click the Print button to print a Family History Report to take to your provider's office.

I entered information about my son's last doctor's visit in the Visits area, but now I don't see that visit when I click the Visits & Hospitalizations tab?
You may not have the correct family member's name selected when you go to the Visits area. From the combo box at the top left of the screen, select your son's name and you will see all information entered for him.

I entered some medications in the Visits area and others in Medical Details. How do I print a report of all medications that have been prescribed for me?
Whether you enter them in the Visits or Medical Details areas, all medications will appear in the Medications table in the Medical Details area. Click the Medical Details tab, then click the Medicines button on the left of the screen and click the Print button on the toolbar.

I set a reminder but it is not showing up on the Active Reminders list. What's wrong?
The Active Reminders list only shows reminders that are currently active. If you have a reminder set for your next annual checkup a year from now, that reminder will not be displayed on the Active Reminders list until the start date for the reminder.

If the reminder should be an active reminder, then the date for the reminder may be set incorrectly. Click the Reminders button on the left side of the Information tab. Click the "Show All" radio button to see the complete list of reminders.

Click to select the reminder and its accompanying information appears in the fields to the right. Change the dates if necessary and click the "Show Active" radio button. Your active reminder should now appear on the list.

I had a broken bone which has now mended, and I had added it as a problem in the Visits area. How do I get this item off the Current Conditions and Problems list?
Go to the Conditions and Problems screen, accessed via the Conditions button on the Medical Details tab, and click the problem to select it and display its details in the fields to the right. In the Problem Status field, click the combo box, and change the problem status to "R-Resolved." The problem will now appear only in the Complete Problem History list.

How can I use PHR to learn exactly how my problems and conditions were treated? Namely, are my conditions linked to the tests, treatment, and medications that were prescribed for them?
Yes. If you attached conditions or problems to information as you entered it, PHR relates your medical interventions to the specific problem(s) for which they were done. To review these connections, follow these steps: Go to the Medical Details tab. Click the Conditions button and highlight a condition on the problem list. (If the problem is no longer current, be sure to click the "Show All" radio button first.) Then click "Related Activities." That will open a screen that aggregates all tests, treatments, medications, and visits connected to the condition you selected.

Why do I only get about 2/3 of the picture while the rest of the picture is cropped off at the right side and at the bottom?
PHR expects the display to be set on 800x600 (or higher) with the Windows standard (small) fonts. It sounds as if your display is set on something else. Please go to Windows Start Menu -> Settings -> Control Panel and double click Display. When Display comes up, go to its Settings tab. Down on the lower right you will find a slider labeled Screen area. Please slide it to 800 by 600 pixels and click Apply. That will change your screen settings if they were on 640x480. Say OK to all the prompts and click the Advanced button on this same Settings tab. Another window with tabs will come up. Please confirm on the General tab that the Font size combo box is set to Small Fonts. If it is, underneath the combo box it will say something about Normal size. This should resolve the problem.

How is the best way for me to get information to my doctor?
First, remember that PHR can print or e-mail just about any information you have entered. By looking at the medical summary screen, doctors can quickly catch on to your medical history. So you can print that screen or e-mail it to you physician. All you need to do is go to Medical Summary and then click on the printer icon on the tool bar. You'll see a print preview. You may print or e-mail this directly from PHR by clicking the respective icon

I have the Personal HealthKey. How do I get my emergency report to automatically launch when I connect my HealthKey to my doctor's computer?
First, enter your emergency information in PHR using the Emergency Card Assistant. Once this is complete, go to the Report Manager and select the Emergency Card for each family member that you want to include in the Emergency Card auto-launch. Click on the HealthKey icon to transfer your emergency reports to your HealthKey.

I have the Personal HealthKey. When I connect it to a computer running Windows XP, it does not auto-launch. Instead, I get the Windows auto-play selection screen. What am I doing wrong?
Some versions of Windows XP have disabled the auto-run feature in favor of auto-play. You will notice that your Personal HealthKey application is the first selection in the auto-play screen. Simply click Personal HealthKey and the application will run.