Home Medical Records
Overview
It's a good idea to keep all your family's medical records in one place in your home. A 3-ring binder or wire-bound notebook with dividers for each member of the family is helpful. Each person's section should have a cover sheet listing:
- Diagnosed chronic conditions (arthritis, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure).
- Any known allergies to drugs, foods, or insects.
- Information that would be vital in an emergency, such as whether the person has a pacemaker or a hearing aid, has diabetes or epilepsy, or has impaired hearing or vision.
- Name and phone number of primary doctor.
You may also want to include:
- An up-to-date list of medications that includes each medication's name, purpose, dose, and instructions, the name of doctor who prescribed it, and the date it was prescribed.
- An immunization record with dates of childhood immunizations, tetanus boosters, flu shots, and pneumococcal vaccine.
- Health screening results for blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, and hearing.
- Results from cancer screenings, such as Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopy, and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests.
- Records of major illnesses and injuries, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and broken bones.
- Records of any major surgical procedures and hospitalizations.
- A list of major diseases in your family, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes.
- A copy of advance directives, such as the person's living will and medical power of attorney.
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| Author: | Katy E. Magee, MA Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: July 31, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine Tom Bailey, MD - Family Medicine | |
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