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Think you have a working knowledge of your own health? Here’s a quick quiz: Do you know your blood type? When was your last tetanus shot? Do you have contact information for your doctors? Names and dosages of all your medications? If you found it tough to come up with details while reading your morning paper, imagine how difficult it would be to provide comprehensive information during a stressful medical test or emergency situation.
Guidelines for tests have changed throughout the years, so it's a good idea to get updated and make a plan for what you need each year, experts say. Keep a record of what you've had and when, Koelker says. And bring it with you to the doctor. Web sites provide another way to keep track of your medical history. Koelker recommends www. mayoclinic.com/health/personal-health-record.
In 2001 I was hit by a train. Okay, not a real train but it might as well have been! My train was a heart attack. When it happened I thought to myself, "why me", "why now", "why here?" I thought I was in good health. I had followed the advice of many doctors, but still the train hit me. As I worked through my crisis, I started thinking about the many factors that could have contributed to my heart attack and wondered why I had not had better warning?
PHRs have been an enormous asset to my duties as a caregiver, simplifying routine medical appointments such as medication adjustments. After all, there’s no guessing when it’s on a piece of paper.
Maintaining a personal health record (PHR) is the key to my existence today. My PHR experience started in the early 1970’s. My parents were diligent about keeping comprehensive and up-to-date files and medical records for me, due to a near medical error as a child. I was almost given the wrong medication by the physician in an emergency situation.
A friend reviewed my medical history with me, including all of my illnesses and health issues. She asked me to start at the top of my head and to go all the way to my toes, and to list anything that was wrong including explanations for any scars.
- Should my PHR include emergency contact information?
- When can healthcare providers share information from my PHR with my family without my consent?
- Where do I go if I can't find the information I need on your Web site?
- What is the training for people involved in managing my health records?
- Does AHIMA store copies of my health record?
- What do I do if I believe my health information privacy rights have been violated?
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