Take Charge of Your Medical Records

"It's your health. So it's time you took control of all the information about it." That is the opening sentence in an excellent recent article in The Wall Street Journal, titled "How To Take Charge of Your Medical Records." It goes on to say, "Studies show that 400,000 Americans die every year because of medical errors, including 80,000 because doctors don’t have in hand the information they need."

The article is an excellent guide to obtaining, managing, correcting and protecting your medical records. It lists five important steps: (1) demand your data, (2) organize it, (3) share it, (4) generate it yourself (measuring your own blood pressure, exercise data, etc.), and (5) protect it. It contains detailed advice on managing records, including computer and smart phone programs and applications, as well as discussing the privacy risks of using those.

In almost every facet of life, knowledge is power, and it is no different in healthcare, except that some of the healthcare knowledge a person acquires might save his or her life.

Communication Critical to Patient Care

 

 

 

A recent article in the New York Times, stressed the dangers of lack of communication. This article focused on lack of communication among a patient's physicians, but the lesson I stress in Patient Confidential, Tips and Advice To Keep You Safe As You Navigate the Healthcare System, about patient involvement, understanding and empowerment is a part of the solution. For example, if patients or their caregivers are constantly asking questions of every physician, nurse or technician who comes into their hospital room to do something, and not letting anything be done without an explanation, the effect of lack of communication among the doctors would be blunted.

 

Of course, asking questions and understanding what is being done and why before it is done, is important in all other medical encounters too, like office visits, tests, medications, physical therapy sessions and so on.

Richard's Interview On Cancer SOS Radio Program





I recently appeared on Joni Aldrich's iHeart radio show, Cancer SOS.  Joni is very experienced in dealing with medical issues, and her show is very helpful to patients, as I hope my book, Patient Confidential, Tips and Advice To Keep You Safe As You Navigate the Healthcare System, is. I think Joni and I, and co-host Chris Jerry, had a very lively discussion, which we hope is beneficial to patients and their caregivers. Much of the credit goes to Joni and Chris, who are deeply committed to helping patients and are skilled interviewers.  The link to the show is below.  One must "join" iHeart to listen, but it is easy and free.

 

http://www.iheart.com/show/Joni-Aldrich-SOS-Supporter-of/?episode_id=27259555

Seven Minute Podcast Sheds Light On Issues in

Patient Confidential, Including Getting Second Opinions

 

I was recently interviewed for a podcast on Jennings Wire regarding various tips I set out in Patient Confidential, Tips and Advice To Keep You Safe As You Navigate the Healthcare System.  Here is the link to the podcast.  I hope you find it helpful.