Medical record keeping is critical – just ask someone who’s experienced a natural disaster.
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Highlights
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Where to Store Your Information
In a file: Many people keep medical records in a file, just as they do other important papers, but a file of papers may be easily lost or destroyed. Some people will store these files at home; others opt for a safe deposit box at the bank. While storage at the bank is safer than at home, the bank could also be affected in a big disaster. Other people may keep their records in a water-tight container in their refrigerator. This, too, may be safer than in a file in a drawer, but under some circumstances the refrigerator could also be destroyed.
In a computer: These days, home computers are a common place to store medical records. Keeping records on the computer allows for easy access and updating. While a computer is probably a safer mode of storage than a file in a drawer, the computer could also be damaged under certain circumstances. If you keep electronic files, be sure to make a backup copy. You may want to keep your backup in a portable format that would be easier to carry with you than your whole computer.
Online: There are now Web sites for storing your medical records. One such site is ihealthrecord.org, run by the company Medem and funded in part by the American Medical Association. On this site, a person may complete and save his or her entire medical record. The individual “owns” the record and can provide a keyword to the doctor or other health care professional that will allow that provider to access the record online for a specific period of time. These are convenient because you can access them from any computer, but some people may be concerned about the privacy of their information.
Off site: Some people keep their medical records at home and also send a copy to a friend or relative living in another state. This is an excellent idea, but remember to keep your back up copies updated.
In multiple places: For added piece of mind, you may decide to keep your records in multiple places – for example, in the computer, in a safe deposit box, and with relatives living elsewhere. Again, be sure to keep all copies updated.
Even in the best of times, people have a difficult time collecting their medical records and keeping track of them. But recent natural disasters like hurricanes Ike, Katrina, and Rita remind us all of the importance of doing just that – especially when you have or have had a serious medical issue like cancer.
In such a situation, you may find yourself thousands of miles from the medical team familiar with your care. It’s important that you be able to give any new doctors the exact details of your diagnosis and treatment.
Critical Records to Keep:
There are lots of options for storing your medical information, from a file at home to commercial Web sites (see sidebar). Regardless of which option you choose, be sure your records include the following information:
- If you’ve had a biopsy or surgery, a copy of the pathology report.
- If you’ve had surgery, a copy of the operative report.
- If you’ve been hospitalizated, a copy of the discharge summaries that every doctor must prepare when patients are discharged from the hospital.
- If you’ve undergone drug treatment for the cancer, a list of the final doses of each drug received.
- If you’ve undergone radiation, a final summary of the dose and field.
- If you’ve undergone chemotherapy, keep a list of chemotherapy drugs you’ve taken. Certain chemotherapy drugs have specific long-term side effects and a list of these from the oncologist would help any new primary care physician.
Collecting all this information now could make things easier if you do find yourself faced with a natural disaster in the future.
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