A personal health record (PHR) is a complete summary of a person's health history. It is important to maintain a health and sickness history for yourself and for your children. This information can be helpful for future reference. Any health care provider you visit will ask about past medical experiences and about your health in general.
There are several ways to maintain the information:
Paper file. Information is stored on paper (e.g., written or typed notes or special health history forms, and copies of lab reports and other medical records).
Personal computer file. Information is stored on your computer. A word processing program or PHR software can be used.
Internet-based PHR. Information is stored on the Internet (at a remote server).
Portable electronic storage. Information is stored on a portable storage device (e.g., CD-ROM, DVD, USB flash drive, smart card, or some mobile phones).
ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR HEALTH RECORD
Birth date, details about the delivery and birth, and any problems that took place.
Serious illnesses and treatments.
Chronic illnesses and treatments.
Minor illnesses, problems, or infections that recur such as ear infections, repeated colds, skin problems, headaches, or others.
Drugs prescribed and any side effects or adverse reactions to them. List the generic name as well as the brand name of each drug. If unsure, ask the pharmacist or your health care provider.
List any nonprescription drugs or supplements taken on a regular basis (vitamins, laxatives, aspirin, and others). Make note of any reaction to them, and whether they helped the problem being treated.
Allergies to food, air pollutants, chemicals, latex, or other substances or products.
Food intolerances, such as lactose intolerance.
Dietary practices (e.g., vegetarian).
Any special weight-loss diets tried, and their results.
Immunizations (child and adult vaccination history).
Medical tests and results. This can include such items as weight, height, and blood pressure when taken in the health care provider's office.
Operations and hospital stays. Ask for copies of operation reports, discharge summaries, and for tests done while in the hospital.
Names and dates of any medical specialists you have consulted and the reason for the consult.
Keep a record of your exercise habits.
Note dates and results of any self-testing performed, such as breast exam or skin exam.
Sexual problems for both male and female partners. If sexually active with more than one partner, write down information about the sexual encounters, and whether protection was used.
Ongoing use of alcohol and amount consumed.
Cigarette smoking and number smoked or other use of other tobacco products.
Make a note of emotional disorders such as stress, depression, feelings of sadness, or other problems that can affect emotional well-being.
Reproductive history (date of first menstrual period, length of menstrual cycles, contraceptive methods used, and pregnancy history).
Note down any other facts about health matters, no matter how minor, that you think may be useful to the health care provider.
Write down medical history of parents, brothers and sisters, and grandparents. This includes any serious illnesses or other medical, mental, or emotional problems. Find out about cause of death for deceased family members. List information about asthma and allergies, breast cancer, diabetes, glaucoma, Alzheimer's disease, alcoholism, and inherited disorders.
Keep copies of prescriptions, test results, and immunization records in the same file.
Have the medical record available when you visit a health care provider. It will assist you in answering questions correctly and completely.
BE SURE TO INCLUDE
Personal information such as your name, birth date, and social security number.
People to contact in case of emergency.
Name, addresses, and phone numbers of your personal physician, dentist, and other health care providers.
Health insurance information.
Living wills and advanced directives information.
Organ donor authorization.
NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF
You or a family member has questions or concerns about medical history information.
Basic information