As part of the nation's transition to a fully networked healthcare system that makes full use of electronic health records, government agencies are working to get patients more involved in their own care. The thinking is that when individuals are more engaged in their own health, they are more likely to make smart decisions that reduce their reliance on the healthcare system.

To further this goal, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT recently launched its Consumer e-Health Program. The initiative seeks to give patients greater access to the information contained in their health records.

The program is trying to get providers to make patient records more available and to persuade individuals to review the information, provide tools that help patients understand their records and to encourage individuals to discuss their condition with their doctor and ask questions.

In announcing the program, officials said that patients generally receive better quality care when they are engaged in their own treatments as an active participant. This can also result in lower healthcare costs.

Electronic health records play a central role in the program, as many of the channels identified for disseminating information to patients involve the use of technology.