Stay in Control of Your Health - Organize!

    Some of us love to organize. We have files, boxes, files in boxes and personal organizers
(some of us have more than one...).  Some have chaos in our organizing, but our chaos is organized!

   Have you taken the time to organize health information for you or your family?

Emergencies are difficult. 
Today, healthcare can be splintered over many physicians, hospitals, outpatient therapies, pharmacies
and home care.  If you call an ambulance, they may take you to an unfamiliar hospital
for a life threatening event.

Health emergencies can be easier, less chaotic and more organized when you have your important health information
readily accessible for emergency and healthcare providers.

When you grab your Health Organizer, you won't be running for pill bottles, trying to remember medication doses
or your physicians' phone number while the 911 team is throwing questions at you
or you are pacing in the Emergency room.

Here are some tips on getting Health Organized...

1. Prioritize Your Information

Even if you don't have a Health Organizer (but after reading this I know you will!)... you can prioritize your health information on paper and have it available for emergencies.  This will also help avoid errors in your care.

Always keep originals of your health information.  Bring a new copy every time you go to the hospital.  Anything placed in your medical chart will go to Medical  Records and will not be available next admission in time to review for an emergency.



1st Priority (We need to know NOW!) 
Medical conditions (especially Hepatitis, TB, HIV)
Allergies (medications, dyes and food)
Medications (and doses)
DNR status
Medical Power of Attorney
Medical equipment in your body (AICD/defibrillator, pacemaker, insulin pump)
Immunizations (particularly children)



2nd Priority (at the hospital)
Names of doctors treating you (and phone number)
Internal devices (mediports, broviacs, dialysis catheters)
Recent labs or test results (particularly: coumadin levels or WBC/Platelets if you are on chemo)
Blood type
Directed blood donors



3rd Priority (at the hospital)
Treatment plans
Caregiver information
Insurance information
Homecare/Hospice information
Rehab Services
Previous Rehabilitation facilities
Special Needs (disabilities, out of town, religious, dietary, etc)
Anything else you think your medical team needs to know

 2. Get a Health Organizer

Don't worry about how to create an organizer. 
There are excellent ones that have everything you need, even flash drives.

Here are some of my favorites...

 
DocFolios  (www.medfolios.com)
  Includes forms for health information, physician information and appointments, tests/procedures, insurance and medicine.
   You can customize your DocFolio with additional purchased health related sections specific  to a health condition,
    such as: Cardiac, Oncology, Diabetes, Asthma/Allergy, HIV/AIDS
    (This is also easily available through the Resources page on this website.)


 
Mar'age Personal Health Journals (www.marageinc.com)
A Personal Health Journal and one for Caregivers.  The also have a 'myICEkey' (noted on the picture of
the Caregiver Journal). the 'myICEkey' (In Case of Emergency), is a Flash drive with your medical information
that you can carry.  (I advise to print it 1-2x a year tohave it on paper.) 
Never leave the Flash drive with your doctor or hospital personnel -you may not get it back!
(Also easily available through the Resources page on this website)


 
Your Personal Health & Medical History (www.healthhistory.com)
For individuals or the whole family in one journal!  Includes forms for Advance Directives, Do Not Hospitalize orders,
Organ Donation forms and other legal forms.




ReliaGuide: Individual, Family & Caregiver Guide (www.reliaguide.com) 
A handy easily portable guide.  Medical issues tabbed on one side, Day to Day issues are highlighted along the bottom.