Keeping track of health information is no small feat. Even for the healthiest person, it can be frustrating to try to remember medicines, the dates of procedures, and results of tests. For someone with recurring health concerns, keeping dates and numbers straight can be a task.
Now at year's end, it's a good idea to have your medical information together for tax purposes, for 2009 planning, for peace of mind.
Like most moms, I'm the keeper of our family's health records, contact information for physicians, and scheduler of appointments. I've tried numerous tactics to manage this data, which includes records for doctors, dentists, ophthalmologists, physical therapists ... the list goes on and on.
I've tried a number of strategies, including keeping separate binders for each member of the family (and yes, the dogs have their own binder), maintaining documents on the computer -- even taking notes on my iPhone. It's time to consult the experts ...
This WebMD video provides step-by-step instructions on how to organize personal medical records. The author recommends that an accordion file is a good place to start. Tabs can be labeled "my history," "family history," "general practitioner," "dentist," etc. Lab results, care instructions, and notes from your visits to individual practitioners.
From there, it's good to write down medical histories of each person in your family, including medical procedures, medications, etc. It's also wise to noting your extended family's medical history (i.e., mother, father, grandparents, etc.), particularly if health issues like diabetes or cardiovascular disease is or was present.
An alternative system to the accordion folder is binders. This is particularly useful if you want to keep track of a specific health issue. Several years ago when I had jaw surgery I kept a binder with digital images, details of my treatment plan, after-care instructions, and recipes for foods I could eat during recovery. This made it easy for me to look up information when working with several doctors. Using this method you may assign a binder for each family member (which can be particularly useful when teens start going to the doctor on their own, or when they head to college).
Your computer also provides an easy place to store information. Just remember to backup all of your documents, and to consider protecting them with a password.
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Related posts:
- Suite 101: How To Organize Family Medical Records
- Get Organized! Your Personal Health Record
- FDA's My Medicine Record
Photo by Mark Crossfield
