Insights from The Orlando Senior Help Desk Organizing medical records

Keep a folder of all medical information. It is good to have a binder in addition to a folder on the computer, so you can take critical medical information with you to appointments. Information Needed:

• Health insurance cards, Medicare cards, and so on

• Appointment reminder cards from health care providers

• A list of medications including dosages, frequency, date started and reason

• A medical history

• A list of emergency contacts, relationship, addresses and all phone numbers

• A sheet for recording the date of visits, the provider and any tests performed or instructions

• Any special logs such as blood pressure readings, blood sugar levels or symptoms

• A copy of a health care proxy, advanced directives or living will

• A power-of-attorney, if one is used

Organization:

Consider purchasing a three-ring binder with clear pockets.

Keep the binder in a handy location. Make sure every caregiver knows where it is kept.

Label the front boldly and clearly – EMERGENCY MEDICAL INFORMATION

Consider using clear sheet protectors to hold papers. These make it easy to remove papers for photocopying or for handing pages to a healthcare worker.

Pick up a business card from each healthcare provider. Slip the business cards into vinyl page protectors.

Each time you make an appointment, take the reminder cards and put them these cards into a page protector. Keep old appointment cards if you don’t want to take the trouble of recording visit details elsewhere.

When you add any information to a document, put the date at the top of the page to show how current the data is.

List an out-of-state emergency contact to be used in case of a widespread disaster.

Photocopy important pages and cards and keep them elsewhere for extra protection.

Search the Internet. Many Websites provide blank forms for medical history, medication and other health records.

What should you keep in a medical history?

• Names of all physicians

• Known allergies or reactions to medications

• Medications including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins and herbs

• Health conditions and date of diagnosis

• Dates of most recent exams, tests and immunizations

• Dates and reasons for hospitalizations

• Dates and details of surgeries

• Dates and length of major illnesses

• History of smoking and use of alcohol

• Location of living will or medical directives

• History of exposure to dangerous conditions or hazards

• Family history including illnesses or conditions of parents and siblings

• Cause of death of parents and siblings and their age at death

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The Orlando Senior Help Desk (407-678-9363) helps thousands of callers navigate their way through the daunting senior maze, alleviating caregiver stress while giving advice on all types of elder issues. http://www.OrlandoSeniorHelpDesk.org.