OptumHealth Introduces Portable Lifetime Personal Health Record
Enables Consumers to Retain Access to Their Own Health Information When They Change Employers, Health Plans or Doctors
MINNEAPOLIS — OptumHealth, one of the nation's largest health and well-being companies, announces the availability of a portable, lifetime personal health record enabling individuals who change employers, health plan or doctors to easily retain access to their previous medical history based on their health insurance claims.
A division of UnitedHealth Group, OptumHealth is providing this portability service through its free, secure consumer Internet portal, www.healthatoz.com, to more than 21 million consumers. These individuals already have personal health records established through sister-company, UnitedHealthcare or OptumHealth's private employer or payer health portals.
"People need continuity in their health care when they change employers, health care insurers and doctors. OptumHealth's new lifetime personal health record gives consumers ongoing Internet-based access to information that can help improve care coordination, prevent duplicate testing and enhance patient safety by reducing the possibility of medication errors," said Harlan Levine, M.D., chief medical officer of OptumHealth's Care Solutions division.
Personal health records are evolving as a tool to give consumers greater control of their health care information. Secure, Internet-based access to personal health records is especially valuable when information is needed during emergencies, at night or on weekends, when other sources of information are often unavailable.
Beyond offering lifetime access to an individual's health claims information, OptumHealth's Personal Health Record integrates seamlessly with OptumHealth's suite of consumer health tools and services, including its private health portals, health risk assessment, interactive health coaches, and biometric data from worksite wellness fairs that automatically append to the individual's personal health record. This provides a consumer and their physicians with a more comprehensive view of the individual's health conditions and medical interventions.
"We encourage consumers to print out and share a copy of their personal health record with their doctor, especially if they are being treated by multiple physicians," said Dr. Levine.
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About OptumHealth
As one of the nation's largest health and well-being companies, OptumHealth makes health care easier and better for employers, health plans, public sector entities and the 58 million people with access to its services. The Company's goal is to optimize health, well-being and financial security, while lowering benefit costs and helping consumers make informed decisions about their health through standalone or integrated services. OptumHealth is a division of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH). More information about OptumHealth can be found at www.OptumHealth.com.
OptumHealth Care Solutions Ann Fleischauer, 763-797-2652 Director, External Communications
January 11, 2008
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