As digitalisation continues to advance, technology is playing an increasingly vital role in healthcare. The Personal Health Environment (PGO) is an innovative digital platform that enables patients to securely and clearly manage their medical records. From viewing medical files and test results to communicating with healthcare providers, a PGO offers patients full control over their health information. But why is a PGO so important in healthcare, and how does it actually work?
What Is a Personal Health Environment (PGO)?
A Personal Health Environment (PGO) is a secure digital space where individuals can access and manage their medical and health data from various healthcare providers. This includes medication overviews, laboratory results, vaccination records, hospital visits, and additional self-monitoring data such as blood pressure, weight, or lifestyle information.
The key distinguishing feature of a PGO is that it is entirely managed by the user. The patient determines who can access which information, independent of the systems used by care providers. This allows health data from different domains — from GPs to hospitals — to be centralised into one coherent and accessible platform.
Benefits of a PGO
While a PGO is primarily designed for patients, it also offers considerable benefits to healthcare professionals and institutions:
- Patients are better informed as they can track symptoms and measurements themselves. This allows for more efficient consultations, as patients arrive better prepared.
- Self-monitoring data and lifestyle information provide physicians with additional insights not always captured in medical records. This broader view supports more targeted treatment decisions.
- Through the PGO, patients can complete forms, answer questionnaires or request e-consultations in advance.
- It serves as a central hub for all relevant health information, resulting in more focused and effective conversations between patient and care provider. This facilitates quicker decision-making and enhances communication.
- Patients have access to a complete overview of their medical history, test results, treatments and medications. This helps them better understand their own health journey and follow the diagnostic and treatment process more closely.
It is important to note that a PGO does not replace traditional healthcare information systems (such as EPRs or HISs), but rather serves as a complementary tool and communication channel towards the patient.
The Difference Between a PGO and a Patient Portal
Healthcare institutions often use their own patient portals, which provide access to a selection of data from the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) or GP systems (HIS). These systems, however, are tied to specific organisations and are rarely interoperable. This results in fragmented information — particularly problematic for patients receiving care from multiple providers.
| Feature | Patient Portal | Personal Health Environment (PGO) |
| Managed by | Healthcare institution | Individual user |
| Scope | Single organisation | Multiple healthcare providers |
| Functionality | Basic access and appointments | Full control, self-monitoring, communication, goals |
| Interoperability | Limited | Based on national standards (MedMij) |
MedMij
Patients are free to choose the Personal Health Environment (PGO) they prefer. However, it is essential that their chosen PGO meets the MedMij certification. This quality label, developed by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Patient Federation, and health insurers, ensures safe and reliable data exchange.
To be MedMij-certified, a PGO must comply with strict criteria. These are defined in the Framework of Agreements, which outlines the standards for data exchange between PGOs and healthcare providers. The cornerstone of the MedMij label is the guarantee that medical data is exchanged in a secure manner, safeguarding patient privacy at all times.
Digital Progress
The legal requirement to support Personal Health Environments (PGOs) has significant implications for both patients and healthcare organisations. Healthcare institutions must ensure that their digital systems meet the required standards for safety, accessibility, and privacy. This represents a crucial step forward in the digital transformation of the healthcare sector.
Implementing a PGO requires technical integrations that comply with current laws and regulations. This means healthcare organisations must establish secure connections between their internal systems and PGOs. In addition, automatic links must be created with Electronic Patient or Client Records (EPR or ECD), often facilitated via hospital or GP information systems (ZIS/HIS).
Praktische tips voor het gebruik van een PGO
- Awareness and Communication: Educate staff and patients on the purpose and use of PGOs.
- Systems and Integration: Coordinate with your EPR/HIS supplier to ensure PGO compatibility.
- Privacy and Compliance: Ensure adherence to GDPR and MedMij guidelines.
- User Support: Provide training and support for both healthcare professionals and end-users.
- Policy and Strategy: Incorporate PGO usage into your strategic information management plans.
- Data Analysis: Use anonymised data from PGOs to identify trends and promote preventive care.
The Future of PGOs
Over the coming years, PGOs will become further embedded in the healthcare landscape. Integration with other healthcare systems is expected to improve, and features such as artificial intelligence (AI) will increasingly support health data analysis and clinical decision-making. Accessibility will also be enhanced with functionalities such as voice control, visual adjustments, and real-time translations for inclusive healthcare.
How Archive-IT Can Support You
The introduction of Personal Health Environments (PGOs) requires more than technological innovation alone — it demands a solid foundation of secure, reliable, and accessible health data. Archive-IT supports healthcare institutions by safely digitising, archiving and structuring both paper and digital records. We help organisations build a robust information infrastructure that aligns seamlessly with the requirements of PGOs. This not only ensures compliance with laws and regulations, but also actively contributes to patient-centred care and a future-proof digital healthcare environment.
Get in contact with us to explore the possibilities for your organisation — no strings attached.