The John Hopkins Medical Center recently published an article regarding senior cardiac patients that said “those who kept a personal health record enjoyed better health—perhaps because they and their caregivers could better see their health picture.” Doctors say especially in emergency situations, having up-to-date records readily available is extremely helpful for healthcare providers.
For many, the older we get means we have accumulated quite an extensive medical history, and keeping it in order may seem somewhat daunting. This is where some tips from the medical community will be welcomed.
The first suggestion from John Hopkins’ geriatric medicine physician Alicia Arbaje, M.D., M.P.H., is to create a Doctor Directory of every healthcare provider you see. Record their specialty and why you see them as well as contact information.
The next step is to create a current file for this year’s medical records. This should include: summaries of your doctors’ visits; hospital discharge summaries, test results; and pharmacy print outs of medications you are taking. Dr. Arbaje recommends including insurance forms related to treatments as well as a copy of your living will and medical power of attorney. Older records can be stored away and brought out when the need arises.
If you have a chronic disease, experts recommend keeping a log of symptoms and side effects. This would include things like blood pressure readings and blood sugar numbers. When taking a new medication, include any information regarding how you are responding to the new drug. To make it easier to update and manage your medical file, take advantage of apps designed for that purpose and check if your healthcare providers offer online medical charts that are available to you.
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Source:
hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/medical-records-getting-organized
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