1. BLUE BUTTON DOWNLOAD YOUR DATA

2. Before becoming a patient, I could only promote the features of My HealtheVet, not the benefits. To properly promote benefits, you have to experience benefits. “My HealtheVet (MHV) is VA's award-winning online Personal Health Record (PHR), located at www.myhealth.va.gov. The mission of MHV is to transform the delivery of health and health care for all Veterans, independent of where they receive care, by providing one-stop, online access to better manage their overall health, make informed health decisions, and record and store important health and military history information. MHV provides access to VA health care and information 24/7 through web- based tools that empower Veterans to become active partners in their health care. MHV registrants can click a 'Blue Button' on the website to view, print or download their available personal health information and military service information. “ (Source: data.gov) DOWNLOAD AND SHARE INFORMATION

3. “They can choose to share that information with other VA and non-VA providers, caregivers, family members or job advocates safely, securely, and privately. Web technology combines essential health record information enhanced by online health resources. This enables and encourages patient/clinician collaboration. The online environment maps closely to existing clinical business practices and extends management and delivery of care. MHV allows VA patients to request and receive VA prescription refills and provides a blended history of VA and self-entered medications. Registrants whose personal identities have been verified as VA patients can receive copies of select VA electronic health records, including VA Appointments, Chemistry/Hematology Lab Results, Allergies and Wellness Reminders. Many VA patients are communicating with their participating health care teams through Secure Messaging.” (Source: data.gov) UP NEXT, HOW SHARING INFORMATION HELPED SAVE MY LIFE 

4. DATA vs. INFORMATION From one of the first computer classes I attended, I learned the difference between the term “Data” and “Information”. The term data, when used within the context of this article, refers to raw, meaningless, useless pieces of information stored in the 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