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Blog: Technology As An Organizing Tool
 Maintaining Your Health Records
A few years ago, someone in the mental health community asked me to speak to a group of clients and their family members about effective ways of organizing personal medical information, a presentation I have now delivered to several local groups.
While researching the topic, I learned about the importance of keeping track of one's own medical history, including symptoms, prescription drugs, treatments, and so on. Keeping this information together in an organized fashion makes things much easier if you have to apply for any type of disability income or other related services, or if you have to see a new healthcare provider, whether it be a specialist, emergency room staff, or other professional. It also allows you to monitor whether your condition is getting better or worse, and at what rate, as it's not always easy to remember how long you've been experiencing a certain symptom or when you stopped waking up with a headache.
I discovered that there are a number of products available for this purpose, including Create Your Own Pink Sheet, Jakoter Health Organizer, Personal Healthcare Journal, and Ready Lifeline Medical Emergency Response Book. Although excellent, some of the products are not available in Canada, and some I felt were too expensive to recommend to individuals on a limited budget, so I developed a Personal Medical Organizer to show participants how they could set up their own binder. Taking the binder with you to medical appointments can help you make the most of your time with the doctor, as since all the information you need, as well as any necessary paperwork, is right at your finger tips. You can also take the binder with you while travelling in case you become ill and need to visit a physician who knows nothing about your medical background. This is especially important for people with disabilities or serious illnesses.
Recently, I have come across what may be an even more practical solution. Vitalogs Personal Health Records is an online solution that allows you to record important medical information in a secure website, making it available to you and your healthcare providers from anywhere in the world. What's really amazing is that this service is absolutely free for you and your family members. For a yearly membership fee, you can also receive a special card authorizing emergency personnel to access your information in the event that you are incapacitated. I really wish I'd known about this when I gave my presentation, but I'll be sure to mention it if I'm asked to speak on this subject again!
posted on: 12/13/2007 8:30:00 AM by Janet Barclay
category: Business
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Technology As An Organizing Tool
by Janet Barclay
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About Janet:
Janet Barclay is a Master Virtual Assistant and the founder of Organized Assistant. Specializing in supporting entrepreneurs in the Organizing and Career Services industries, Organized Assistant provides top-notch Internet marketing services to business owners of all shapes and sizes. Janet's Website:
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