“From the perspective of a trauma physician, I see Healthspek’s legal documents repository as a potentially groundbreaking tool for both doctors and patients.” Dr. Chris Moore
Nashville, Tennessee (PRWEB) October 23, 2014
In the midst of current healthcare reforms and chaos, developers in the heart of the nation's healthcare industry have created a comprehensive tool, Healthspek, designed to simplify the lives of consumers and empower them to take control of their own care.
Healthspek, an award-winning personal health management platform that allows individuals and families to control their own information, introduced universal online access this week. Previously, Healthspek was limited to the iPad with its award-winning personal health record (PHR) app, but now account users can manage health records and legal documents through any web browser or their iPad app—which means access to personal health information now depends on preference, not practicality.
Dozens of dashboard “speks” enable consumers to manage a variety of healthcare needs from vitals, medications lists, refills and reminders to informational sources for nutrition, health and even AARP. Healthspek also serves as a repository for all relevant legal documents, a feature that could hold special significance for parents, those with chronic medical conditions and individuals serving as a caretaker for aging relatives.
“Today’s healthcare environment is changing dramatically due to an increasing demand for transparency and more patient control over personal health records,” said Bruce Lefew, co-founder and Healthspek chief operating officer. “Other PHR tools are focusing on various aspects of care, but Healthspek is unique in that it allows for everything related to healthcare to be managed from one customizable personal dashboard.”
The universal mobile Web launch accompanies a national campaign pushing the Blue Button, an initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as a result of landmark legislation that confirmed that Americans have the legal right to access their own electronic health records.
The Blue Button allows users to collect electronic copies of health records from some of their providers’ secure online portals. Once that data is received, Healthspek acts as an aggregator to organize the records in easy-to-read categories that help streamline pertinent information.
“We are seeing the regulatory environment meet modern technology in a way that facilitates patient empowerment, and Healthspek is the empowerment tool for consumers,” said Randy Farr, Healthspek chief executive officer and co-founder. “Providers, physicians and patients have already demonstrated the power of this tool, and we continue to develop new capabilities based on their feedback.”
Dr. Chris Moore, former chief medical officer of Hutcheson Medical Center in north Georgia and founder of the recreational organization Outdoor Chattanooga, says that Healthspek could be mean the difference between life and death for patients. As a family and emergency physician, Moore says he can easily imagine a situation in which Healthspek’s records could affect a critical care decision for the patient, and his or her family.
“From the perspective of a trauma physician, I see Healthspek’s legal documents repository as a potentially groundbreaking tool for both doctors and patients,” Moore said. “It’s as simple as uploading and storing this information, and it guarantees that the patient’s wishes are recorded and respected. In those situations, it’s very comforting to know with certainty.”
The myInbox receives medical records and facilitates electronic communication with the provider. With a patient’s permission, doctors can access records and legal documents through Healthspek’s http://www.chartnow.com.
In 2014, Healthspek was one of 10 companies who earned an invitation to the AARP Health Innovation @50+ LivePitch, a showcase of the hottest startups in the “50 and over” health technology market. Healthspek is also featured in the App Store’s Personal Care Apps list, was listed as a Top-Five Best Medical and Health Care app by Tab Times and won MediaPost’s 2013 Appy Award in the medical category.
Healthspek is a free tool available on all smart devices and computers through their browsers (http://www.healthspek.com). Healthspek also continues to be available for the iPad by downloading from the iPad App Store. To learn more, visit http://www.healthspek.com.