A patient with diabetes mellitus experiences a sudden fall in blood glucose levels while travelling. Which type of health information technology would be beneficial for this patient?

A personal health record (PHR) would be beneficial for a patient with diabetes mellitus who is experiencing a sudden fall in blood glucose levels while traveling. A PHR allows patients to actively manage their own health information and keep it accessible, regardless of their location. This is particularly crucial in situations where immediate medical assistance is needed, as the patient can quickly provide healthcare professionals with relevant medical history, details about their diabetes management plan, medications, and any allergies.

Using a PHR, the patient can input real-time data, such as blood glucose readings, which can be critical for anyone assisting them during a hypoglycemic episode. The portability and personalized nature of PHRs enhance the patient's ability to communicate their health status effectively, thus ensuring timely and appropriate care.

In contrast, electronic medical records (EMRs) are typically used by healthcare providers to document patient care within a specific practice and may not be available to patients outside of that provider's system. Clinical health care informatics focuses more on the analysis and management of health information rather than direct patient access, while regional health information organizations (RHIOs) facilitate the sharing of health data among different healthcare providers rather than giving patients direct control over their personal health information. Thus, a PHR is