Today’s fast paced society places growing demands on our memory. Many of us depend on  “reminder” lists posted on our refrigerator door, bathroom mirror, calendar or somewhere in our head for those things we shouldn’t forget. But what about our health care? How do we remember such vital information?

It is common for many people to forget  medical information, unaware of its potential diagnostic importance. As patients, we are often asked to
remember facts about prescriptions, dates of previous and upcoming appointments, results of blood tests as well as many other medical details.

Our health care professionals too deal with ever increasing demands due to government health care cutbacks, physician and nursing shortages, and
an aging population.

We can contribute to the quality of our health care by creating awareness of our bodies and  MAINTAINING OUR PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION.

By DOING this we:

Help assist with an EARLY DIAGNOSIS:
The monitoring of one’s health information generates awareness of medical symptoms which attribute to an early diagnosis. The illness can often be cured or controlled with appropriate medications or treatments,
thus improving the quality of one’s life.

Help assist with a CORRECT DIAGNOSIS:
Providing your health care provider with accurate information will play a vital role in assessing your illness.

Help avoid the MIS-USE OF MEDICATIONS:
(1) It is easy to duplicate medications by taking generic drugs which have different manufacturing names- you may think they are different medications when they are actually the same.
(2) You may unnecessarily repeat a medication which cause you to have side effects if you cannot remember taking it before.
(3) Prescribed medications can accumulate unnecessarily when visiting different doctors. One doctor may not know what the other has prescribed.
(4) When the attending physician is not aware of your other medications, he/she may be prescribing a new medication which may pose a serious reaction with one you are already taking.

Help prevent MEDICAL ERRORS:
A recent report by the Institute of Medicine states that as many as 44,000 to 98,000 people die in the U.S. as a result of medical errors. This could result from a variety of tasks; however, the more aware you are of your
own conditions, the better able you are to recognize when an unusual treatment/medication is being administered.

Help IMPROVE COMMUNICATION between patient and doctor:
When visiting different doctors, often medications are changed and new advice given. When information is recorded, you can refer to who advised what and why.

Help when TRAVELING or MOVING:
If you receive medical attention throughout your life from the same doctor and the same location, then you will be amongst the very few. Obtaining medical records from health care facilities can be expensive, time consuming and sometimes impossible. What happens if you are
traveling and become ill in another city? The attending physician has no medical knowledge about you. Having such information available can mean the difference between “getting better” or “getting worse”.

Provide an Alert Signal for FAMILY RELATED/INHERITABLE
DISEASES:
Knowledge of family related diseases can help create awareness of symptoms to watch for. Your personal medical information can also be a tremendous benefit in assisting with the health care of your children and
grandchildren in years ahead.

Helps provide STRESS RELIEF:
It relieves the stress placed upon your memory. Note: It is also advisable to inform your family or a close friend of where to find this information should an emergency arise and you are unable to speak for yourself.

Dianne Duffett is a mother of two children and helps care for an elderly relative. Dianne realized the need for and published  Help Your Doctor Help You with your Personal Medical Journal. Helping you make your health and that of those you love a priority! 
Visit www.RandomInspirations.com or call 1-888-547-2389