Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Personal Medical Record Keeping -10 Must Do Actions To An Efficient 8 Minute Healthcare Visit

Research shows that medical doctors have about 8 minutes to devote with each of the numerous patients they see every single day. Planning ahead ensures the time is spent wisely and leads to the best care.

Implementing and using a MedTrakker personal medical record organizer can help you navigate your way through your healthcare journey for better communication and exceptional quality healthcare with your health providers.

As a medical professional for over 20 years and an outspoken medical patient advocate for the last 8, I've discovered that the important business self-discipline of being well prepared and taking charge also applies to medical wellbeing in general. When applied to your own medical care and history, it can sometimes mean the distinction concerning life and death.

Strengthening ourselves through knowledge and understanding provides us the resources and assurance to take control of our health/medical care allowing us to partner with our physicians. The result? Less stress and worry. Understanding. Greater decision-making and better quality healthcare results.

An easy, yet often forgotten step is to apply the business technique of information collecting and planning to your healthcare provider's visit. Studies have shown that health practioners have about 8 minutes to spend with each of the numerous people they see every single day. Getting prepared ahead guarantees the time is used correctly and results in the most effective healthcare. Unfortunately, almost fifty million people in America are without a doctor, which means a walk-in center or medical healthcare facility may be the place of your next healthcare connection. You may be seeing someone who knows minimal, if anything, about you, or does not have access to your complete medical history record. Keeping up to date and accurate information is especially significant for you or a loved one in this situation. 

This has led to more respected and mutually trustworthy circumstances where physician and patient can work together as partners. Now more than ever, we are accountable for tracking our own medical course; we have   larger part in analyzing our way of life alternatives to general health remedies that are best suited for us. Many of us remain on top of frequent tracking of our serious health conditions; and do more investigation than ever before into indicators and/or circumstances, thanks to the range of details available from reliable online websites.

Preparing ahead places you immediately where you are worthy to be: at the hub of your medical care as a genuine partner with your healthcare provider.

Set Your Goals. Make a check-list to stay on target with what you want to focus on and to make sure nothing is forgotten - 8 minutes is certainly not a lot of time.

List Current Medications. Include current prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, herbal remedies and vitamins or any supplements you take, including dosages and frequency.

Bring Current Test Results. Include procedures, lab work, scans, and physician reports you may have had done elsewhere. If you have a chronic condition, include your latest readings (i.e. blood sugar, blood pressure).  You will need to start gathering copies of medical reports so you possess a complete personal medical record, which is vital in a medical emergency.

Prior Medical History.  Include previous hospitalizations, healthcare problems, any genetics or family history - especially regarding problems or causes of death of first-line close relatives. This will save your doctor time researching your file and places it top of mind.

Keep A Journal. Log the signs of the present healthcare concern for your physician; if you have stomach aches, please record what and where it 's painful, when it happens (constant or intermittent), how it feels (sharp, pounding, aching), and any aspects that might be relevant, like meals consumed at the time of oncoming, etc. Focus on healthcare concerns: discuss the most demanding first. Some health specialists can only deal with one or two health-related issues per visit; make a follow-up appointment for items not included.

Bring Someone With You. A companion at your visit as an additional set of ears to review paperwork, ask concerns and offer assistance is beneficial, particularly for a challenging situation or if serious treatment plans about your care are being made. People usually retain very little of the conversation about their health, so having a third person present is a great way to make sure you don't forget everything the physician said.

List Questions To Ask to make sure you keep in mind what you want resolved. Stay focused. Never think twice to stop your physician if you require understanding on any complex info. Ask about immunizations, pills, assessments or other assessments that may apply to your situation.

Share Major Life Events (Losing a job, caring for or losing a loved one, etc.) This helps your doctor review your physical health as well as your mental health to develop an accurate medical assessment.

Do Your Research. There are now many reliable websites that offer information on health conditions and illnesses. Empower yourself with knowledge about your situation and treatments available. Communicate and share these sources with your medical doctor.

The medical organizers are available exclusively online at: http://www.medtrakker.com/
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1 comment:

  1. Good information! Thanks for sharing it with us on your blog.

    ReplyDelete