A new collaboration between Aetna and Microsoft Corporation will give members the option to create personal, portable electronic health records. Aetna members currently have access to the insurer’s own Personal Health Record system, but this partnership with Microsoft will bring added benefits to Aetna health insurance members. The Microsoft HealthVault is a security-enhanced, web-based consumer health platform. By importing your personal records into HealthVault, members will be able to access their information even after they change jobs or health insurance plans. Essentially, you can carry your health care and health insurance records with you anywhere.

Aetna’s Personal Health Record is a well-designed, easy to use tool that allows members to keep track of their health history easily. The program is pre-populated with health information from physician offices, labs, diagnostic treatments, and pharmacies. Members can also enter personal information, such as family health history or allergies. An interesting feature of the program is its use of the patented CareEngine technology, which alerts members to possible gaps in their health care, helping them to achieve the best health possible. Once your personal records are set up, the electronic health record can help in a variety of different ways:

• Keep track of your doctors
• Manage your medications, and how well they work
• Keep track of your children’s vaccination schedules
• Track your medical test results, and view your progress
• Share your health history with health care providers
• Manage your individual health insurance or family health insurance plan
• Keep track of your health insurance claims
• Print out your personal health record, and carry it with you when you travel

The collaboration officially began November 1^st. Aetna members can now log in to their Aetna PHR, and transfer the information to a new HealthVault account. Once the records are in the HealthVault account, members can store, access, and share the information with health care providers.

Through our PHR, we have been able to offer our members a tool to help them take control of their health, based on the belief that members own their information and should have access to that information in a secure, easy to use online record. By teaming up with Microsoft, we can now offer them the ability to have continuous access to their health information.

- Mark Bertolini, President of Aetna