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The Importance of Keeping a Personal Medical Record

Summary & Participants

Medical information is usually scattered in many different places. To receive the best possible health care, people are encouraged to gather information in one place and create a personal medical record.

Medically Reviewed On: July 21, 2008

Webcast Transcript

ANNOUNCER: Some doctors also believe information about the medical history of other family members may be valuable in a personal medical record.

RON STOCK, M.D.: Family history information is important to have in a personal health history. There is a lot that can be known about the patient's risk for future medical problems, for discussions about prevention, whether it's diabetes or heart disease, by knowing a little bit about what the family history has been.

ANNOUNCER: Most people have some personal health information at home, although many do not have an organized system for keeping track of it.

CAROLYN CLANCY, M.D.: For someone starting to store this information, I think it's important to have it in one place, and to have it where you know it's accessible, and potentially someone else who lives with you or is close to you would also know where to find it. That is very simple. It can be on paper. It does not have to be fancy.

ANNOUNCER: A personal medical record can be as simple as a notebook or folder. Computer programs and Web sites are options, too.

CAROLYN CLANCY, M.D.: There are a growing array of programs that you can either buy or that you can log onto on a Web site password-protected to protect your privacy. For people who are comfortable storing the information that way, that can be a terrific way to do it.

ANNOUNCER: Electronic health information systems -- while far from commonplace -- can also provide data for a personal medical record.

RON STOCK, M.D.: There are a number of health care systems now that are combining the personal health record with the electronic medical record and developing what's called a patient portal.

ANNOUNCER: The future will likely bring better and more automatic systems for compiling individual medical information. But experts say even then patients will have to work hard to know and understand their personal medical records. The quality of their care depends on it.

CAROLYN CLANCY, M.D.: The ultimate purpose of your having personal medical information is so that you're aware and it's available if needed, and so that you're engaged with your health care. So the information systems of the future will solve the availability question. Being engaged is something that you have to do.

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