A Personal Health Record (PHR) is an electronic application used by individuals to maintain and manage their health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment.

PHRs differ from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in several key ways. While EHRs are digital versions of patients' paper charts and are mostly used and maintained by healthcare providers to store information such as medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, immunization dates, and allergies, PHRs are managed by patients themselves. This allows individuals to input and retrieve their health information, including data from various healthcare providers and their own records such as daily exercise routines and dietary habits.

Creating a Personal Health Record can significantly enhance an individual's ability to manage their health care effectively. However, it requires a conscientious effort to maintain accurate, comprehensive records and an awareness of the privacy and security measures necessary to protect sensitive health information.