In the article, Mark Frisse, director of regional informatics at the Vanderbilt Center for Better Health, claims that many insures and providers are reluctant to share information. This hesitation stems heavily from privacy issues and the unwillingness of agencies to work with one another.

Cooperation isn't the only process that is taking time. According to e-medicine analysts, the launch of personal health files requires current files to be transferred into electronic format. This procedure not only takes time, but also requires a certain amount of compatibility in regards to computer systems.

Additionally, privacy advocates argue that while patients should have more control over their medical files, they could also face potential discrimination if health records are easier to access. For example, a potential employer could access an individual's medical records and choose not to hire him or her based on medical history.

Regardless of today's concerns, Frisse predicts patients will have access to their personal health information via Web portals and cell phones within the decade. For now, however, they will have to settle for what they can get.