

(Hint: Your list of medications may be incorrect and test results may be misfiled.)

Health care professionals were often hesitant to share this information with patients, let alone give them copies of their records.
Doctor electronic record it mother how to#
When I wrote my first book in 1999, How to Save Your Own Life, most people thought it was their doctor's job to keep their health information and know everything about it. No one but you can keep all this information in one place and available to those who need it. Their medical information is often scattered across several hospitals, laboratories and practitioner offices. Older adults may be seeing many doctors and other practitioners, have multiple medical conditions and take many and changing medications. And taking charge starts with keeping copies of your medical records.Īlthough everyone should get in the habit of asking for and storing a copy of their medical records, it is especially important that we do this for a parent or loved one. This means taking charge of your own health information.
Doctor electronic record it mother professional#
The secret is to do for yourself or a loved one what your health care professional can't do. You have the power to get the best health care possible and even save your own life. We aren't warned about the dangers of not knowing our own health information. We sign a mandatory form protecting the privacy of our health information, but we aren't provided a similar form that assures the availability of our medical records to the one person who needs them the most-you. This warning label should appear on every patient health record, with each test or procedure we have, and with each office visit. No news is NO news when it comes to your health information! WARNING: Not knowing your medical information could be hazardous to your health! Ask for a copy of your test results and medical summary after each doctor visit, hospitalization or emergency visit.
