Organized record keeping is a major imperative in healthcare as it ensures that no necessary component of care is overlooked by the providers. The WMH Personal Health Record is a tool that incorporates a healthcare method that is holistic and easy to master and implement.

Registration of a new doctor:

Before a doctor can start using the WMH PHR system, he or she should register with WMH. For more details on this, please contact Lt Col Anand Nair (Mob: 9846326247 email: asnair@gmail. com). Upon registration, the doctor will be provided with a username and a password using which he or she will be able to access the Doctors Interface of the PHR system.

Creating a PHR for a new patient:

The doctor should login using the specific username and password given at the time of registration. Next, click 'Add User' located on the right menu panel and follow the instructons to create the new account. Clicking on the Doctors Notes in the Doctors Menu (right panel) opens a data entry page where clinical information can be entered and saved. If the patient has already been registered with WMH, there is no need to create a new PHR as he or she will be assigned to the doctor by the primary care doctor at WMH.

Reviewing a patient:

1. Enter any part of the patient's name, username (email id) or PHR Number in the box in the right panel. This will lead to drop down of a list of patient names.

2. Click on the name of the patient who needs to be reviewed. This willl now be selected in the box. Now click the Switch user button and the patient's PHR will be opened.

3. The doctor should enter his notes in the Enter Notes (Doctor’s menu > Enter Notes). Upon saving, the entered matter will be appended to the previous entries in the Doctors Notes. The notes should describe in a clear and brief manner the patient's presenting problems and the response of the doctor to the problems (treatment prescribed, plan of investigations, specialist referrals and so on).

4. The doctor should also review and make changes, when necessary, to the Health Conditions and the Medications lists. The suggested format for entering medication:

Metformin 500 mg 1--0--1 started 10 July 2010

It is necessary to preserve the history of changes to medications and health conditions. When a medication is discontinued, this should be recorded in the Medications History together with the date of modification or discontinuation.  E.g.,

Metformin 500 mg 1--0--1 started 10 July 2010 modified 2 April 2011

Pantoprazole 40 mg 0--0--1 started 24 Sep 2010 discontinued 8 Oct 2010

When a health condition has resolved and is no longer active, it should be moved to the Past Medical History box and the dates of onset and termination also recorded.

Using the Reminder System:

The doctor may construct a monitoring and review strategy by setting up reminders for tests, reviews and other health actions at intervals indicated by the clinical condition of the patient. Reminders (the link for which is located in the right menu) are emailed to the patient or to a responsible relative on the set date. The email id to which reminders are to be sent is entered when the patient's account is created or any time subsequently (via the link 'More Details' in the Personal Details page). There is no limit to the number of reminders that may be set up and it is possible to organize the monitoring plan for a patient for any length of time into the future. Patients may set up their own reminders too.