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Jan,
Battle Creek
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The information contained in this newsletter is not intended to replace the advice of your healthcare provider.
If you
have any questions about managing your health and/or seeking medical care, please contact a medical
professional. |
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March/April 2007 - Protect Your Personal Health Records
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Your personal health
information is a valuable
resource to you, your
family and the healthcare
professionals who provide
your treatment and care.
But, did you know that, in
most cases, a complete
record of your personal
health information cannot
be found in any single
location or consistent
format?
Instead, each of your
healthcare providers - family practitioner,
allergist, OB-GYN, etc. - compiles a separate
medical record on you.
Needless to say, these
multiple medical records
have the potential to
lead to an incomplete or
inconsistent story about
your health.
Keeping your own
personal healthcare
record (PHR) allows you
to provide doctors with
valuable information that
can help to improve the
quality of the care you
receive.
A PHR can help reduce
or eliminate duplicate tests and allow you to
receive faster, safer
treatment and care in an
emergency.
In short, a PHR helps you
to play a more active role
in your healthcare.
But, collecting your
medical file quickly
can be a real problem - especially if you need
it on short notice or have consulted multiple doctors or institutions.
You would need to
request your records
from each, realizing
that each may have a
different request form and
process - which can be
very time consuming and
burdensome.
For starters, you can ask your doctor for copies of
reports and tests that are gathered during the course
of your treatment.
For special tests - such as MRIs, CT scans,
x-rays and the like - the provider administering the
test may likely be the "gatekeeper" for copies.
In the longer term, you may want to consider
compiling your own PHR. To do so, you will need to
request a copy of your health records from all of your
healthcare providers. Click here for health record forms
for adults and children that you can print and use.
Don't feel that you must gather all your health
information at once. If you like, the next time you visit
the doctor, simply ask for recent records - and do so
each time you visit a healthcare provider.
According to the American Health Information
Management Association, here are the steps for
creating a complete PHR:
Step 1: Contact your doctors' offices or the health information management (HIM) or medical records staff at each facility where you received treatment.
Ask if your records are in an electronic format that you can access yourself or if you need to request copies. Also, ask your physician or the HIM professional to help you determine which parts of your record you need.
If you want medical records kept by your health plan, contact the plan's customer service department. |
Step 2: Ask for an "authorization for the release of information" form. Complete the form and return it to the facility as directed.
Most facilities charge for copies of your records. The fee, however, can only include the cost of copying - including supplies and labor - as well as postage if you request the copy to be mailed.
It can take up to 60 days to receive your medical records, so ask when you can expect to receive the information you requested. |
Step 3: Once you've gathered the information you are seeking, there are a few different ways you can maintain your PHR.
To get started, you can simply gather your information in a file folder. Since not all information may be available to you in an electronic format, an old fashioned file folder or three-ring binder may be the easiest and most inclusive format for now.
You can divide the binder into sections by family members. Then within each family member's section, divide information by year or illness. |
Step 4: There are many great PHR tools and services to help you get organized. You can transfer electronic information to a computer disk or USB drive to carry it with you.
Then there are Internet-based services you can access from your home computer where you can store and retrieve your health information. Some services can even help you collect the information you need from your doctors and other healthcare providers. |
| Step 5: Bring your PHR to all visits so you have the information with you and to remember to keep adding and updating it with entries from providers, yourself or your family member. |
| Step 6: Create and carry a card that has vital information on it - such as medication needs or allergies - with you at all times. You won't always have your PHR with you. |
| Step 7: Remember, this is your private information, so protect it and maintain confidentiality. Let trusted family members know that you are compiling it, and where you keep it - but beyond that, keep it safe and protected. |
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