Electronic Person-Generated Health Data

A newer, more inclusive term for what is widely known as patient-generated health data is person-generated health data (PGHD). Person-generated health data are defined as data captured by people via technologies independent of and/or in relation to situations where those people are patients.¹  In contrast, patient-generated health data are defined as “health-related data created, recorded, or gathered by or from patients (or family members or other caregivers) to help address a health concern.”² 

An important distinction between the 2 terms is that PGHD include data generated outside of the traditional health care setting. Capturing data on health promotion and prevention activities and expanding the definition of health beyond illness to include wellness provide clinicians with a more comprehensive picture of the health and health care of individuals. Use of the term person-generated instead of patient-generated expands the focus from the patient to the more inclusive person; this...