A Patients Handbook or Action Plan

A Patients Handbook or Action Plan

Part I

IF I KNEW THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW is what inspired this blog. At first I was going to tailor this for pituitary tumor patients but these hints may help others with different conditions. So here is in brief a suggested Action Plan or Handbook to take control of your diagnosis. A chronic or lifelong illness means you have this new and unwelcome life partner who requires lifelong management and control. For those challenged with rare disorders this is not an option. You have to become CEO for your health management. You have to, no one else is or will keep all your medical records updated and in one convenient location. YOU!!! Off the bat your wearing 2 new hats, the first hat will be as an unpaid insurance processor. The sooner you learn and adhere to the required procedures for filing new claims, getting treatments or medications at your insurance company the happier you will be. The second hat is that of an unofficial med student. You will be hearing medical terms and a language that is part Latin mixed into medico speak. You have to understand what you are being told. Learn the lingo. Get a medical dictionary from a thrift store or book store. Save info off line........ Read and Research and build your knowledge base.

***All sincere suggestions to improve this Handbook is Welcome,

I Would gladly edit and republish worthy improvements to this handbook for all our benefit***

Your Handbook might include (but not limited to) the following.

I suggest getting at least two binders, dividers, pockets, sheet protectors. One book will be for all your doctors and insurance information. The second binder will be where you keep your research.

The first page to prepare is a patient history and information page your tear sheet this you will keep 2 copies of. One for your first page of your health record book. The second (a copy) being for giving to all new doctors and/or emergency doctors who may treat you.

Page One - Tear Sheet -

Health Record Allergies:
for (name)
Address:
phone:
Emergency contact name ___________ phone ____________
_____________________________________________

Insurance Contact info:

Insurance info:
_____________________________________________

Medications:

Medication: Dose: How often: Prescribing Physician: Physician phone #


______________________________________________

Physicians:

General Physician: Name: Phone:
Specialist: Name: Phone:
Therapist: Name: Phone:


Hospital Name:
Hospital Address:
Hospital Phone:
_________________________________________________
Medical History:

Allergies: List all allergies on top of this list here and on top of the page as illustrated. Only Allergies should be RED.

Diagnosis:
Physician who diagnosed this condition name and phone:
When:
Where:
Treatments in brief:
Outcome:

Repeat for each diagnosis.
____________________________________________________

Alternative Health Practices: It is essential to include all alternative health methods your are using.


__________________________________________________________

Next blog will be suggestions on how to organize the rest of the Health Record Binder and what records to gather or begin creating.

With our physicians and hospitals becoming more and more strapped for time mistakes happen. A proactive approach is to help insure these mistakes do not occur. A printout of all your essential medical information handed to all professional health providers who treat you saves time all around and insures you delivered accurate information to each health provider. A good time to use this is when you fill out the New Patient form for a new clinic or doctor or emergency room and it is then included right into your medical record for that clinic or doctor.

Part II (Coming Soon) will provide suggestions for organizing the whole medical record and insurance section.