Since it launched in 2001, PAMFOnline has repeatedly received praise for its convenience, ease of use and innovative features. And according to the 2007 PAMFOnline Customer Satisfaction Survey, users continue to be happy with how easy the e-health service makes it for them to manage their health care.

More than 92 percent of users reported being satisfied or very satisfied with PAMFOnline. (More than 75,000 patients, or about 44 percent of PAMF's adult primary care population, are enrolled in PAMFOnline.)

Users gave the e-health service high praise, saying access to their medical record and features of PAMFOnline makes them "feel comfortable and secure," "simplifies life" and "makes health care much more efficient and available."

The complimentary personal health record is offered to all PAMF patients and allows users to log on to a secure Web site 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world. Patients can use PAMFOnline to view test results and key portions of their PAMF electronic health record, request appointments and prescription renewals, and receive customized health information. For a minimal fee, subscribers can add online messaging that allows them to communicate electronically with their physicians in a secure setting.

In addition, PAMFOnline's two newest programs -- PAMFOnline for Children and Proxy Access -- allow adults to log into the PAMFOnline accounts of children or adult loved ones for whom they are overseeing health care.

"Because I have a 101-year-old mother, more frequent office visits are out of the question. My ability to refine her treatments and keep them up-to-date with her conditions has kept her alive a lot longer than she would have been under her previous system of medical care," said a Proxy Access user. "The ability to graph her test results has given me a visual picture of her progress over time and has prevented her from taking unnecessary medications. And the ability to communicate with her doctors keeps her treatments current to her needs."

When asked what they feel are the most beneficial and appealing aspects of PAMFOnline, users rated online messaging, receiving and viewing test results, requesting prescription renewals, and the convenience and time savings as their favorite features. "Receiving test results quickly helps relieve stress," said one user, while another added, "After seeing the graph of my lipid lab tests, I was motivated to maintain the healthy diet that my doctor had advised."

To help users learn about and take advantage of all of the service's features, PAMFOnline users also receive a brief monthly e-mail newsletter with a link to a mini-movie demonstration that will teach them step-by-step how to use PAMFOnline. Topics include how to view and graph test results, request appointments and prescriptions renewals, and much more.

Summing up the benefits of PAMFOnline, one user said, "It makes everything so much easier!"

For more information about PAMFOnline or to enroll, please visit www.pamfonline.org.