AHIMA Launches National PHR Consumer Awareness Campaign

TV host John Walsh appears in PSAs for personal health record awareness

CHICAGO, January 28, 2008—Today the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) launched the “It’s HI Time, America!” campaign to heighten awareness and educate healthcare consumers on the importance of improving the management of their health information by developing personal health records (PHR).

This campaign encourages Americans—especially caregivers, maturing adults, parents raising children and individuals managing chronic conditions—to create and maintain comprehensive PHRs that contain the information needed to make important medical decisions.

 “We view quality health information as an essential element to quality healthcare,” AHIMA Chief Executive Officer Linda Kloss said. “As professionals who work with health information every day, here’s what we know in our heart to be true: personal health records save the lives of some and improve the lives of everyone.”

AHIMA is using various elements to raise consumer awareness about the collection and organization of personal health records. The myPHR.com web site re-launches today with new features and improved, streamlined resources designed to more effectively engage visitors interested either in learning more about PHRs or creating a PHR for themselves or for a loved one.

There will be national radio and television public service announcements (PSAs) featuring veteran network television personality John Walsh, himself a survivor of a serious back injury.  Although Walsh appears in the PSAs, he is not a spokesperson for the broader AHIMA campaign. “We are thrilled just to have Mr. Walsh as the host of our public service announcements,” Kloss said.

A documentary with real-life stories is also available to help healthcare consumers relate to the every-day necessity of managing their own PHRs.

 “Having championed this cause to overwhelming success throughout the HIM profession, our member-volunteers are expanding the field—now with an extraordinary effort—to include consumers in a way that can only lead to healthier, longer, happier lives with each PHR we help create,” Marsha Dolan, MBA, RHIA, co-chair of AHIMA Personal Health Records Practice Council said.

About AHIMA

AHIMA is the leading professional Association representing more than 53,000 specially educated and certified health information management professionals working throughout the healthcare industry.  HIM professionals serve healthcare and the public by managing, analyzing, and utilizing data vital for health system management. www.ahima.org