Mothers have the daunting task of keeping track of their family health records. Add this to the already busy days of childcare, work, and household responsibilities, and it is overwhelming. There are many benefits for collecting your medical records and taking responsibility for your own healthcare. If you need to change doctors, it allows you to tell your new health care professional support about your medical history. These records are also useful if you get sick or need emergency care when you are traveling. When you have your own records, you prepare by writing a summary that you can kept with you. You might even carry it on a thumb drive. This will help make sure you receive better care.

Personal Story

It happened! We were on vacation in Colorado. Our family had hauled our mountain bikes halfway across the United States. We were biking with our extended family on a wonderful bike path. My son hit something on the path and did a nosedive to the pavement. Perhaps I should have said a “chin dive”, since that’s the part of his body that needed stitches. Here we were, a long way from home, in an urgent care facility. The staff was taking his medical history. I knew the answer to many of the questions they asked, but I could not answer every question. I did not feel as ready as I should. I needed to get organized!

Keeping Health Records 101

It is never too late to begin collecting your family member’s health records.  One important benefit could be saving your family member’s life by avoiding an allergic reaction to medication. Here is some information you can gather over time.

1. Keep a health journal with a log of home-treated illness. This will help you discover patterns which you can discuss with your health care provider.
2. Start collecting medical records. Start with present visits for current health concerns. Take notes from visits to doctors and midwives, including tests, discussed, and diagnosed. Ask for copies of lab reports.
3. Record all medications and supplements taken and any reactions which may occur.
4. Spend time researching health conditions which occur in your family. Make a list of questions to talk about with your health care provider.
5. Make a list of every health care provider you or your family has ever seen, including hospitals, chiropractor, dentists, nutritionists, etc.
6. Beginning with the most recent, contact the offices and ask for copies of your patient file. You might have a fee for getting copied information. Work your way backwards in time.
7. When you get the records, you will be able to refer to them to make a summary of your health history which you can carry with you.

Your children will also be glad you took the time to prepare this information. It will help them when they fill out their patient intakes. When the time comes, it will help them take better of you in your old age.

Start now to collect your health history and compile your children’s as they grow. You’ll be glad you did!

P.S. How do you keep track of your medical records? Please encourage others by writing in the comment section above.