Your Family's Medical Records

Start a file for your family's medical records to keep track of tests, diagnoses, treatments, therapy, and medication for future reference.

Keeping track of your family's medical records may mean the difference between life and death. A lady who lives in the Midwest developed a severe reaction to an antibiotic that she had been taking for a respiratory infection. Taking note of the medicine, she tucked it away somewhere until another infection took her to the hospital's emergency room several years later. There she was ordered antibiotic treatment. Although she could not recall the name of the medicine she had become allergic to, she asked her husband to check her home file, and he found that it was indeed the one prescribed by the hospital doctor. Since her first reaction had been severe with possible liver damage, the second dose might have killed her. She was indeed fortunate that she kept track of the problem drug.

Although many of our medical needs and circumstances seldom impose life or death consequences, some do. Others may create annoying glitches in treatment or may interfere with another medical situation that is being treated separately. To keep track of the various medical situations for each family member over several years' time, consider setting up a file for each person that includes basic but helpful information.

1. Make a separate file for each person. Individual sheets will help to prevent possible confusion about who got which drug or treatment. You can handwrite these or enter them into a computer spreadsheet, then save them on a disk in case of a system virus or crash. Keep a print copy on hand somewhere so you can grab it the next time someone has a doctor's appointment.

2. Include categories for each person's name and genetic conditions, which includes anything that is inherited or family-related. Also add chronic illnesses like asthma or diabetes, along with the date of onset. Describe acute symptoms, such as low weight or frequent fatigue. Also chart all hospitalizations for each person, as well as physical, occupational, or other types of therapies, and medications each person is taking now or has taken in the past. Indicate any known drug allergies or interaction problems, and list the symptoms that accompanied these, such as a rash, shortness of breath, hives, etc.

3. For female family members, include reproductive information such as the date of first menstruation, period cycles, pregnancies and miscarriages, along with menopause if applicable. Problem periods or associated symptoms should be reported as well as any pregnancy-related disorders or complications.

4. Sports or physical injuries, emotional disorders, psychological conditions, employment-related injuries, or other kinds of accidents, such as those caused by a car or bicycle, should be indicated. Severe wounds, cuts, surgeries, amputations, or scars might be noted.

5. Include a section for the person's general health. Smoking, drinking, obesity, stress, anxiety, and other generalized behaviors need to be charted for possible reference in future diagnoses. Taking vitamins, supplements, or following a special diet, along with bowel or bladder problems, vision, hearing, and speech difficulties all have a place in your file for each person.

You need not gather and list this information all at once. Sort it by degrees and update your files every few months, adding the newest details along with immunizations, to have records ready if the need should arrive.

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