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On 18 Aug 99 at 18:14, judith richards wrote: > Hopkins: Carrying Your Medical History > August 18, 1999 > > BALTIMORE (Johns Hopkins) - If you're ever rushed to the > emergency room, unconscious or unable to speak clearly, what > would you like the medical team to know about you? > > Doctors and nurses need certain information. Helping them get it > can mean faster and more accurate medical decisions. On a card > or piece of paper in your wallet, here's what the pros would like > to know: name and date of birth; name and phone of primary > physician if you have one; previous hospitalizations and > surgeries; any medications you take; and family medical history, > especially things like cancer, diabetes and heart trouble. It > may seem like a lot, but it's worth it. > > "As much information as a patient can give us about their medical > history, the better it is for them. Because it's all pieces of a > puzzle [that] help us determine what's going on at the time and > how we can treat them and make them feel better," says Jean Marie > Lucas, clinical nurse specialist for the Johns Hopkins Emergency > Department. > > Lucas says some people are hesitant to share their habits and > histories on paper. But she reminds patients that hospitals are > there to help, not judge. > > Copyright 1999 The Johns Hopkins University. All rights > reserved. > > Judith Richards, London, Ontario, Canada > [log in to unmask] Hi Judith, This is a great idea which was brought forth on this List before and has been tested and refined over the past couple of years by myself and I think possibly Geo. Lussier. As many of you on this list know, I now have a three ring binder marked "Information for Awareness & Assessment in a Medical Emergency - Murray Charters". The first page is tabbed "Medic Alert"... A page that states that I have Parkinson's. In addition it gives my g.p.'s name & phone #, my neuro's name and phone #, lists the medication's I take (drug,dosage, timing) blood type, and allergies. The second and third pages are tabbed "Personal Data" and list my name, address, tel.#, fax#, e-mail, my social insurance #, my Health Care #, my age and date of birth and my language for communication. In addition my caregiver (my wife) is listed, and the names, addresses, and tel. #'s of my 5 children and my sister who lives nearby, under the heading "If You Are Unable To Contact Caregiver and an Emergency Exists, Please Contact..." The 4th. 5th. & 6th. pages are photocopies of my prescriptions. The next several pages are monographs of the medications I take and are marked with tabs for each individual med. At the back of the binder are plastic pocket pages tabbed "Pertinent Phone Numbers". These pages have business card pockets and contain the following business cards. My g.p.; my neuro; my pharmacist; my dentist; my optometrist; my physiotherapist; several Parkinson Resources such as UBC Neurodegenerative Disorders Centre; NPF; B.C.P.D.A.; my employer; my trade union; my wife's employer; etc. Each card has a computer generated label "Doctor" "Neurologist" "Pharmacist" etc. Each label is bright yellow high-lighted. It's like a very condensed who's who yellow pages customized for one individual - me! In the pocket in the binder cover is a photocopy of the latest blood tests I've had (on the Labs letterhead with their address and phone #) There is a running log sheet where I mark the date and reason for any medical related office or hospital visit. The beauty of this binder is that ALL the information is in one place, its ALL in plastic protector covers, there are no loose pieces of paper, it is very portable, and available in an instant. I find it a very handy reference tool when I want to call my dr. or neuro, etc. This binder sits under the phone when I'm at home and goes in my personal carry on bag when I travel. I have a wallet card that states all my medical info is in a 3 ring binder and where it should be located. I recommend that everyone (not just PWP's) should consider organizing similar databases. Ya never know when it just might be very handy... Best regards............... murray [log in to unmask]