Health Literacy Consulting Tips
www.healthliteracy.com
July 2008

Personal Health Records

By Helen Osborne, M.Ed., OTR/L
President, Health Literacy Consulting

Providers aren’t the only ones who should be writing notes in health records. Patients, too, have a lot to gain by creating their own. I know how important personal health records can be from my experience as both a provider and patient. In this month’s Health Literacy Consulting Tip, I’m pleased to share some lessons learned: 

  • 3-ring binder. My health record is a simple, low-cost, 3-ring binder that I bought at a local office supply store. There were so many choices that I could find one in my favorite color. While at the store, I also purchased tabbed dividers plus extra 3-hole paper to put inside.
  • Zippered pouch. Beyond these basics, I also bought a zippered pouch. This became exceptionally handy to keep appointment slips, patient identification cards, and other small items so easily lost. I even put a pen inside the pouch so I never again needed to fumble for something to write with.      
  • Tabbed dividers. Of course, it’s the information that is most important. I used the tabbed dividers to separate information into different sections for: tests and results; print-outs, handouts, and other learning materials; health history (including a current medication list); doctors (including driving directions to their offices); questions to ask (with space to write the answers); and even a copy of my health care proxy. 

For years in health literacy presentations, I would recommend that patients keep personal health records. But it wasn’t until I was in that situation that I really understood their great value. Happily, my personal record now mostly sits on the bookshelf. But it’s comforting to know it’s there should I ever need it again.

To learn more about personal health records and other lessons learned as a patient, go to “In Other Words… Communicating When Naked: My Perspective as a Patient” at http://www.healthliteracy.com/article.asp?PageID=4221

For permission to include Health Literacy Consulting Tips in your organization's newsletter, please contact Helen Osborne by e-mail at: helen@healthliteracy.com, or by phone at: 508-653-1199.