Sunnybrook's MyChart Personal Health Record (PHR) represents a direct extension of the hospital's electronic health record and an innovative form of healthcare record that promises to change the way patients and providers access and manage the information required to participate in their care. Early attempts at the development of PHR features have evolved into a set of emergent best practices that should directly inform the ongoing development of the MyChart platform and should be complemented with a research agenda that supports evidence-based analysis and design considerations affecting clinical efficacy, administrative efficiency, and value generation for all PHR stakeholders.