Daily we learn of new mobile health tools and ways technology can assist in public health initiatives and population health. Telemedicine, Amazon Alexa, Smartphones, online platforms, wearables, and other health technology applications (mHealth) have in many ways radicalized the way that healthcare providers communicate and provide care to patients. Mobile phones and mobile peripherals can be used as biosensors—measuring blood pressure, heart rhythm, blood sugar levels and even brain waves—as well as functioning as a personal scanne such as an otoscope or ultrasound. Health technology's potential continues to progress year after year, and many companies, institutions, practices, and hospitals are investing and working on its evolution. New devices are even being tailored to serve those with specific health conditions. Medical decisions are being made with the information gathered from such technology. Information in the medical record supports the ongoing care for the

patient by the physician and other providers. In addition to its clinical significance, the medical record is also a legal document that can serve as evidence of the care provided.

Patient-generated health data (PGHD), is a term encompassing all forms of data that patients provide on their own. The custodian of the Electronic Medical Record is the person who has been designated responsible for the care, custody, and control of the health record for such persons or institutions that prepare and maintain records of healthcare. The official custodian or designee should be authorized to certify records and supervise all inspections and copying or duplication of records. Authentication is an attestation that something, such as a medical record, is genuine. The purpose of authentication is to show authorship and assign responsibility for an act, event, condition, opinion, or diagnosis. Every entry in the health record should be authenticated and traceable to the author of the entry. If Patient Generated Health Data is used to diagnose or treat patients, will it meet the authentication and traceable requirements for the medical record?

Key Words: Patient Generated Health Data, PDHD, Electronic Health Record, Authentication, wearables.