Now more than ever before individuals are taking a greater interest in their health and healthcare. Eating healthy, taking vitamins and herbal supplements, and exercising have become more commonplace, and often what was once left up to the doctor to decide is now being balanced by the desire to be more proactive.

With this in mind, keeping a personal health record (a PHR) can be one of the most healthful things you can do for yourself or for a loved one. A PHR is more than just a compilation of your medical records. While medical records are created and maintained by doctors, hospitals or other healthcare providers, a PHR is created and maintained by you. It is an ongoing, personalized compilation of important personal and health related information about you or someone you’re caring for.

By creating a PHR you can make sure that healthcare providers get a complete picture of your health. This can save precious time in recognizing symptoms and diagnosing conditions accurately. It may also help minimize expensive and uncomfortable tests by better answering questions or identifying possible problems. And if you are acting as a caregiver for someone else, having a PHR for that person will simplify your job and reduce stress.

“A PHR should include four types of information,” says Denise Pozen, attorney and creator of So Tell Me... personal health organizers. “Personal - such as name, address, contact information; medical - doctor visits, ER visits, diagnostic tests and surgeries; medicinal - your prescriptions and supplements; and observational - such as notes from doctor visits, diet or exercise records, reactions to medications, research notes, etc. Medical and medicinal information comes from doctors and pharmacists, but personal and observational information has to come from you.”

To start your PHR, Pozen suggests talking to your healthcare providers (primary care doctor, dentist, eye doctor and specialists) about how you can get pertinent information from your medical records, and asking your pharmacist for information regarding your prescriptions. Then write down emergency contact information and insurance information, and make a copy of any medical directive or living will.

All the information that makes up a PHR should be centralized and easily accessible. Because not all information is available in electronic format, one or more file folders or a three-ring binder is a good way to store your information. For many, a paper-based system such as the So Tell Me personal health organizer is the best way to start. The question and answer format and pre-printed tabs and forms make it easy to get started with tracking family history, past and future appointments, medications, tests, treatments, and more. (See www.sotellmeorganizer.com for details).

The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) recommends that a PHR contain basic identification including name, birth date and social security number, as well as the following:* Emergency contact information
* Name, address and phone number of doctors, dentists and specialists
* Health insurance information
* Living wills and advance directives
* Permission forms for release of information
* Organ donor information
* Hereditary conditions
* Significant illnesses and surgeries
* Current medications and doses
* Immunizations
* Allergies
* Important test results
* Eye and dental records
* Any information you want to include about your health - such as your exercise regimen, any herbal medications you may take and any counseling you may receive.

Remember to also include activities or symptoms you may be monitoring. Once you start your PHR, it is important to keep the information current, make sure others know where it is kept, and take it with you to each new healthcare visit.

Whether for a scheduled doctor’s visit or a trip to the Emergency Room for yourself or someone you care for, the more prepared you are and the more easily you can communicate pertinent health information, the more helpful and effective your healthcare visits will be.

You create records for all of the important aspects of your life - finance, education, travel, auto and home maintenance - isn’t it time you kept current on the most important aspect of your life - your health?
For more information on organizing personal health records or to place an order for a So Tell Me... personal health organizer, contact Pozen Services Inc. at (888) TELLME2 (888-835-5632) or visit www.sotellmeorganizer.com.

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