Creating a Family Health History Just Got Easier

Physicians know the importance of completing the medical history section of each patient's health record. They also know that compiling that historical data consumes a considerable amount of time. But what if patients could create their family health histories on their own time and then simply hand that electronic file or paper document over to their physicians?

Patients can do just that using an updated version of HHS' My Family Health Portrait.

Originally created by the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General as part of its Family Health Initiative launched in November 2004, this free Web-based tool was recently re-released by HHS as a way for consumers to organize and share family health history information with whomever they choose. The tool can even create a graphic representation of the user's "family tree," complete with any hereditary health disorders.

All personal information entered is confidential and downloaded only to the user's computer.

In communications with AAFP News Now, Acting Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven Galson, M.D., M.P.H., said the resource would provide value to family physicians.

"This tool is an asset for family clinicians because not only will it help guide medical decision-making and reduce unnecessary tests, but it will also help facilitate conversation between the family health care provider and the patient. This will ultimately help clinicians provide more informed and personalized care for their patients," he said.

As for consumers, they'll appreciate the tool's easy accessibility and the fact that they can complete a basic health history in just 15-20 minutes, said Galson. "It empowers them to play an important role in contributing to their health."

In a related HHS press release, Galson said the ever-growing base of knowledge about genetics has made the job of creating accurate health histories even more critical.

Galson added that the tool would "serve as a platform for developing new risk-assessment software that will help in screening and prevention of cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions."

The concept of an easy-to-construct and simple-to-share medical history document may catch on with the public. According to a source in the Federal Office of Public Health and Science, the original tool -- the one released in 2004 -- was downloaded about 500,000 times.

Jason Mitchell, M.D., assistant director of the AAFP's Center for Health IT, previewed the redesigned tool at a meeting in Washington last fall. He said physicians should have no qualms about sending their patients to the Web site.

"This isn't just about family history." It's about the ability to store historical genetic information, said Mitchell -- ultimately, in an electronic health record, or EHR.

"The most widely available genetic information that we have about ourselves is our family history," he added. But for busy physicians, "family history is painful to gather."

According to Mitchell, if patients go through the online process to create their family health history document and then print a copy for their physician, that document may not be EHR-ready, but it's still a time-saver for the physician.