lDON'T FORGET!
Personal Healthcare Record
ISBN 978-0-9744643-3-6
ISBN 978-0-9744643-4-3
Copyright, Tortuga Publishing, 2008
A division of
Tortuga Enterprises LLC
All rights reserved worldwide
Tortuga Enterprises LLC
1142 S. Diamond Bar Blvd. #261
Diamond Bar, CA 91765
www.TortugaEnterprises.com
Contact Us: CharlaSpence@Verizon.net
Facts & Questions (FAQs)
Facts & Questions (FAQs) A5 - Ideally, the PHR should begin at birth and be continually updated Remember! – To keep information current, you must continue to The PHR was developed to be used in a couple of formats; either as Table of Contents Both PHRs have 3 main sections (128 pages) The age appropriate A. Journal Pages Note or staple any new information from office visits and other B. Medical History Work with your healthcare professionals and existing records to Medical History ‘At A Glance’ For Emergency Personnel emergency personnel to find quickly.) Personal Information Emergency Contact Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare/Advanced Directive Medications Common Health Conditions Early Childhood – Birth Info, Shot Record Hearing Records (optional cross reference – see Journal pages) Vision Records (optional cross reference – see Journal pages) C. Health Reference Information Review the health reference section that answers questions about - Templates for photocopying if you need additional pages in - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and additional hints on Important Healthcare Event Reminders and Checklist Vital Signs Growth Chart – Boys Growth Chart – Girls Immunization Schedules Other excellent medical information resources The Author’s Story Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Symptom Journal Cover and Spine Art (For additional notebooks) Wallet card (Note: Print back to back) Authorization to Treat (Child) (Note: Print back to back) Insurance Verification Form Note: The two blank tabs are provided for individual needs.) The contents of the Personal Healthcare Record are not 5 Simple Steps
Follow these 5 simple steps in completing and maintaining v Prepare a Journal page for: If you do not have a healthcare appointment scheduled, x Punch and insert copies of reports and test results
This sections includes the following information. Please scroll down
to the topic of interest:
Q1 - Why is there a need for a PHR?
Q2 - Who was the PHR designed for?
Q3 - Why isn't the PHR in an electronic format?
Q4 - Isn't this information available from my doctor?
Q5 - When should the use of the PHR begin?
Q6 - How do you use a PHR?
Also included:
Table of Contents (for the PHR)
5 Simple Steps (for using Your PHR)
Development Background for the
Personal Healthcare Record (PHR)
Q1 - Why is there a need for a PHR?
A1 - Each stage of our life has a special healthcare focus. Parents are
concerned about the children and adults are concerned about keeping
themselves and or their aging parents healthy. Because of these
different healthcare stages and concerns, there are two age specific
versions of the PHR - Birth to 17 Years Old and Adult.
Birth to 17 Years
- Keep track of all the vital information for your newborn until they start
school.
- The school years are a time of continued development and
exposure to a larger more diverse group of people exposing your child
to other potential healthcare risks making prompt attention to
preventative healthcare routines even more important. This is a critical
period of immunizations, vaccinations, documenting early development
activities. You will find it easier to keep track of this important
information in this fun and easy to use PHR.
- The adolesencent years often involve more intense sporting activities
not to mention the coming of age for young women and young men and
the healthcare issues and education at this time in their lives.
Adult (18+) Version
The transition from parental healthcare to assuming the responsibility for
your own healthcare is made easier when you can just continue tracking
your healthcare history based on the foundation established by your
parents in the the child's version. If this foundation is missing, the PHR
will provide a framework for your to collect the important relevant
information from your childhood. As an adult you will have new
preventative healthcare events like monitoring health indicators.
In addition, there are 77 million baby boomers entering their "golden"
years and an increasing need for caregivers.
Example: there is an estimated 250,000 Alzheimer's caregivers
today. Predictions are that 1 in 8 men (1 in 6 women - they live
longer) will be diagnosed with Alzheimer's in their lifetime.
That equates to 1/2 million/year by 2010 and 1 million/yr by
2050. And, that is just one healthcare issue. Add to that all the
other medical issues...cancers, diabetes, heart problems...yikes!
Q2 - Who was the PHR designed for?
A2 - While the caretakers for small children, elderly, chronically
or critically ill might benefit the most from the PHR, all individuals
should maintain and up to date medical record in the case
of undetected medical problems or accidents. At least one other
trusted person should know where your PHR is kept in case
of emergency.
Q3 - Why isn't the PHR in an electronic format?
A3 - There are electronic resources/products on the market.
However, electronic formats are not for everyone. The primary
users of PHRs, the baby boomers, older generation, children, are not
necessarily comfortable or may be incapable of using
computers. Caregivers may find it inconvenient or create
unnecessary steps to maintain records electronically. There
are advantages to having a hard copy record for the younger, tech
savvy generation too. This is one area where low technology
is the best technology’. The health care industry systems are
still not integrated (and may never be due to HIPAA). There
are different systems and different software which require the
user, if interested, to use yet another system to electronically
update their personal health care records. The PHR approach
acknowledges this reality and provides something that the user
can buy, ‘ready to go’, and record with a good old fashion pen or
pencil. They write down the information ‘on the spot’ at their health
care appointment, hole punch any health care documents they
receive and call it good. No extra and unnecessary steps that
many will not take the time to do after the fact.
Another big plus for a non-electronic format is Emergency
Preparedness. In case of a natural disaster, computers may not
work or even be destroyed. Grab you PHR as you are leaving your home
and have everything you need regarding your personal healthcare.
Q4 - Isn't this information available from my
doctor?
A4 - Yes. But, in addition to the issues in Q3 regarding
healthcare system incompatibility and privacy laws, most of us
see more than one doctor (referrals). In order for the doctor to
treat you properly, he/she must know what has again request your
health history, inquire about what has already been done and so
on. This can become confusing especially when dealing with
multiple doctors or assisting with more than just your own
personal medical concerns.
Q5 - When should the use of the PHR begin?
throughout your entire life. Many health care professionals and agencies
encourage individuals to "take charge" of their health by encouraging each
individual to follow all the standard guidelines for diet, exercise, prevention
and maintenance of personal health. The PHR is a perfect place to track
this type of information.
Having an accurate and complete PHR is important for everyone;
however, not everyone has realized the value or taken the time to
develop a personal health care record. Some may even think that they
don’t need one because they are healthy and active; however, it
can be dangerous to assume that, just because you don’t have any
known health concerns now, you don’t have something that has gone
undetected; or, a new condition won’t arise. Think about the children
and athletes who make the news because they died unexpectedly
usually from an undetected medical condition. While developing a PHR
should not be born out of the fear of some major medical problem, it is
important to have accurate and complete information about your health
to assist with prevention and possible early detection of health problems.
Your PHR should include all aspects of healthcare including medical,
dental, hearing and vision.
Q6 - How do you use a PHR?
A6 - You will probably find all or most the information you need
to collect for your PHR. It is probably scattered and unorganized
in a variety of places - your parents, your files, your doctors,
etc. Once you gather it and put it all in you PHR, it will be easy to
find and maintain going forward.
update the PHR with any new information when you get it.
a bound book or tear the perforated pages, hole punch and place them
in a 3 ring notebook format to make it easy to include additional pages,
copies of medical tests, reports, add additonal journal pages, etc. This
format also makes it easy to rearrange or move older documents to
additional notebook as your history grows. This is your journal so,
rearrange in whatever order makes sense to you.
content includes:
updates in your personal journal pages. Better yet, take journal
pages with you to make notes immediately during each visit or
other activity.
consolidate all of insurance, powers of attorney, Medicare,
past healthcare history and other important information.
(Recommendation: This page should be placed as the first page in the PHR for
Known Allergies
Medical Insurance
Information
Healthcare Provider Contact Information
Family History – Parents, Siblings, Blood Relatives
Surgery or Hospitalizations – Serious Illness or Injury
Vaccinations and Immunizations – Child, Adult
Other Hospitalizations/Pregnancy
(optional cross reference – see Journal pages)
Dental Records (optional cross reference – see Journal
pages)
Development and Identification
Photographs
Finger Print Record attach)
vital signs, weight/height averages, cholesterol ranges and
other common health questions. You’ll also find:
the future.
completing your PHR
(Note: The source of the enclosed reference materials, listed below,
is from MedlinePlus.gov (A service of the National Library of Medicine
& the National Institutes of Health). Please refer to the
Medline Plus.gov website and consult your doctor for additional
information.)
Temperature
Breathing
Blood Pressure
Pulse/Heart Rate
Glucose Levels
(websites)
Why should you use a Personal Healthcare Record?
Who should use a Personal Healthcare Record?
How do you use the Personal Healthcare Record?
5 Simple Steps [on how to use your PHR]
Testimonials
Template Pages (Hint: Do not write on templates/Photocopy
and keep for future use.)
Journal Page
designed to offer medical advice or replace your doctor’s
healthcare advice or records. It is intended as an
organizational system only.
your PHR and putting it to use in taking charge of
your healthcare future.
u Complete Medical History section - continue to search
for missing information from other sources.
· each of your next healthcare appointments
· or, to record any illnesses, injuries or
complications
that is ok, you should begin to collect Concerns/Questions
to discuss with your healthcare professional. Most
healthcare professionals appreciate it if you come in with
a list of questions to make the appointment time more
efficient and make sure that all of your concerns and
questions are addressed.
w Record appointment information as soon
possible, preferably during appointment. Make sure you
complete the journal page with Diagnosis, Actions Needed
and Outcome and follow through on any of the actions you
need to complete.
behind the appropriate appointment in the Journal pages.
y Schedule any future appointments, tests, etc. based
on the recommendation of your healthcare professionals.
Don’t forget to schedule the routine appointments like
annual physicals, dental, hearing and vision check-ups.
Development Background for the
Personal Healthcare Record (PHR)
The author, Charla Spence, is not a healthcare
professional which makes her uniquely qualified for
developing the Personal Healthcare Record (PHR).
In the evaluation of her own needs, the needs of her elderly
parents as well as her own family, it became obvious that
some organization of this information was greatly needed.
She developed a system to personally organize records
for multiple individuals, in separate records, which became
the testing ground for what is now the PHR system. Overtime,
she found it to be a valuable tool. She also determined
would be easier if the record began at birth instead of
later in life.
Rather than lots of lengthy content explanations, medical
jargon and awkward documenting methods, Charla
provides only the most commonly used reference
information, presented in non-medical layman's terms
using a flexible, easy to use journal format.
This format is extremely important to the efficiency of the
documentation. While electronic documenting seems
logical, it isn't as efficient or practical as the handwritten
journal format for tracking health care history for several
reasons:
- In order to record information in a timely manner (before
it is forgotten), the information should be written down as
it is happening. That way the user won't forget what the
healthcare professional really said or need to find the time
to enter into a electronic system. Sometimes the best
technology is low technology!
When test results or other documents are received from
health care professionals, the user can just punch them
and place them in the journal style notebook immediately.
No need to scan as in an electronic format.
- It is portable which means it can go with the user on
vacation, be handed to a caregiver, grabbed in an
emergency; and, there is no need to be concerned about
software compatibility or even computer access.
- The notebook format allows the user to rearrange records
in a manner that makes sense to them, archive older records
in another place to make the volume manageable and add
reference information that is relative to the users
situation without carrying around information that they
don't need.
