January 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

What's New at Guardian Nurses?

Get Control of Your Own Medical Records

Happy New Year Good Cheer!

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What's New at
Guardian Nurses

Willard Middle School Toy Extravaganza

Betty Long inspecting a kindergartner's chosen pink tea set.

For the last three years, Guardian Nurses has teamed up with the Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) at Mastbaum High School in Philadelphia to sponsor a Christmas toy giveaway to the kindergarten students at Willard Middle School in Kensington (Philadelphia). It's our way of saying thank you to all of our clients and friends who support us throughout the year.

Somebody's getting wrestling figures for Christmas.

This year, six classes of kindergarten students filed into the auditorium to view a stage filled with "elves" to help them select toys, games, books, and dolls. It is always a joy to see the children's eyes as they light up and smile from ear to ear.

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!! From all of us here at Guardian Nurses, our best wishes for a 2015 filled with good health and cheer.

As we head into another year, many of us are setting goals and making resolutions. Here's a goal that doesn't involve weight loss and may be much easier to accomplish---getting control of your own personal health records.

Through our work with patients, we often encourage them to 'ask for a copy of the results' or 'make sure they send you the visit note.' Think about it, you keep records of your checking account, your bills, your children's school accomplishments. Why not your own medical records? This first issue in 2015 of The Flame makes suggestions for getting control of your medical records. We hope you give it a shot.

Best wishes for 2015!

Betty

Betty Long, RN, MHA

President/CEO

Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates

Why You Need to Keep Your Own Medical Records

The more doctors you see, the more medical files you have. And the more scattered your medical records are, the higher your risk of drug errors, missed diagnoses, and other potentially dangerous glitches. The solution? Keep a set of your own records at home.

Your at-home records can be on paper or electronic, whichever is easier for you. The American Health Information Management Association provides a step-by-step guide to creating your own personal health records on its website: www.myphr.com

Start Small

Just to get started...request a copy of your test results at your next doctor's appointment. Or if you get a radiology study done, request a copy of the test on a CD for you to take with you. Then you'll have it if you need it.

Cast A Wide Net

Don't stop at medical offices. Collect your records from your dentist, pharmacy, hospital, lab, and any other facilities you might visit.

See Red

Keep your records, if paper, in a brightly-colored holder so they'll be easy to spot in any emergency.

Divide and Conquer

Organize the information in a way that makes sense to you, but mark it clearly so it makes sense to other people as well.

Arm Yourself

Always carry a mini-record on you that identifies your physicians, an emergency contact, and the names and dosages of any medications you are currently taking.

Basic Components of a Personal Health Record

Personal identification
Emergency contacts, including phone numbers
Physician contacts, including specialists and dentists
Health insurance information
Living will, advance directive, or power of attorney
Organ donor authorization, if any
Current medications and dosages
Significant illnesses and surgeries, with dates
Immunizations and their dates
Allergies or other sensitivities
Results from most recent physical exam
Test results and eye and dental records
Family health history
Opinions of specialists
Correspondence with physicians

Remember, personal health records are a great tool for helping you make decisions and understand trends in your own health.

So, set a goal this year to compile and organize your own medical records. When you accomplish it, you'll be glad you did! Then, you can start planning your weight loss strategies.

Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates
215-836-0260 | Toll Free 888-836-0260 | info@guardiannurses.com | GuardianNurses.com