Writing Your Medical Autobiography 3
Many of us have thought about writing our autobiography to share with family and friends our life experiences and insights as we travel the road we call Life. Although this might seem foreign to many, sitting down to write about yourself is a good idea. Recently, I had the opportunity to join a colleague on a radio show to talk about the value a patient advocate can bring patients and their caregivers when a medical event thrust them into the complex would of healthcare. To listen to the show click here.
It was an interesting experience, and I learned a lot as part of the process. During one of our breaks, I met Francine Yaffa, a professional organizer.  Francine was listening to our discussion on the show and offered a suggestion that we share information on the importance of writing a personal medical autobiography. I had not heard this term before and asked her what a medical autobiography was. She explained a medical autobiography is another name for a Personal Health History that a person develops, so they have all of their current and past medical history in one document.
I thought this was an excellent idea and wanted to share information in this week’s post so readers could become familiar with the concept and start their medical autobiography.
Having a personal medical autobiography allows each person to reflect on their life, their health history and allows them to see how their health history changes over time. Documenting the information can provide insights into how you are doing, the progress you are making and how the treatments you have taken in the past or are currently receiving are working. 
Reflecting on this information allows you to ensure your health and healthcare are meeting your goals. In addition, having this information in print allows you to share your information with your providers and others charged with speaking for you if and when you cannot speak for yourself. Most importantly, your medical autobiography allows others to get to know YOU.
I asked Francine to share with me some of the points that she recommends to be part of a Medical Autobiography. Here is what she recommended. I also added a few ideas that you might want to consider.
Your name, address, home and cellular phone number, email address

Emergency contacts names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses (note if any of these contacts are the person’s health caresurrogate and power of attorney)
Medical Insurance information: note your insurance information with your ID numbers and phone numbers. If you have long term care insurance include that information also.
Prescription Insurance: company name, phone number, Policy #
Prescription Medications. List all of the medication you take. Write the names exactly as they are on your medications bottles. Note the dosage, times you take the medicationsand the date you started taking the medication as well as the reason for taking it
Over-the-Counter Medications and Supplements also should be listed. List all of the information noted above for your over the counter medications and supplements.
Note all of your health, dental and vision conditions including date of onset
Note any and all surgeries you have had. Including the date/year of the surgery, the surgeon’s name, the reason for surgery
List all of your physicians: note their names, specialty, address, telephone, fax, email, patient portal link along with your username and password.
If you are a snowbird, list the doctors whomyou see in your hometown as well as the providers whom you visit when you are at your vacation home. The document allowsyour physicians to communicate with each other as needed.
List any allergies to drugs, food and environmental allergies. 
Note any food sensitivities, diet restrictions or preferences (for example gluten/lactose intolerance, vegan, kosher, etc.TIP:  If you have allergies/food sensitivities you might want to move this section up on the list under emergency contact information so that it is right at the top of the page as it will be more noticeable to the healthcare provider. You can also use a yellow highlighter to highlight the headings “Allergies” and “Food Sensitivities” (or type these headings with a RED font and print the document with a color printer so important points stand out
Hospital where you would be admitted. Include the address and phone number. 
Rehabilitation centers/facilities you are currently using or have used in the past. Include the address and phone number
Urgent Care Centers you have used. Include the address and phone number
Laboratories, where you get your blood work is done. Include the name, address and phone number

Facilities, where you get your diagnostic testing done. Include the name, address and phone number

Durable Medical Equipment being used, such as a walker, cane, wheelchair and the company where you have obtained the equipment. Include the name, address and phone number
Miscellaneous information: For example, copy of the card the doctor gives you to show the location of implantable devices as well as the serial numbers that identify the devices. These cards have important information that physicians would want to have in case there is a problem with the device or implant. Examples of implantable devices are stents, pacemakers, joint replacements, etc.
Copies of your Healthcare Surrogate document, your Living Will, your signed HIPAA forms, advance directives.

If you have contacted with a professional healthcare advocate to assist you in navigating the healthcare system, include their name, phone number and email address. 

Make a list of all of your financial information with your account numbers and directions on who do contact when needed.
Names, addresses, phone number and email of your Attorney, your Financial Planner, your Accountant, your Bank and other financial institutions where you have accounts. These could include retirement accounts.
Your place of Worship. Many people want their names placed on a prayer list or have someone from the place of worship to visit them if you are housebound

If you have made pre-arrangements with a Funeral Director, include the name, address and phone number.

If you have a description of how you want your funeral planned out, include that document so you can make sure your wishes can be implemented. Items to include could be your favorite scripture passages, music you like and people you want to make sure attend and what you want them to do.

    This document should be kept in a safe place as it contains sensitive information. Having developed the document, allows you to print out your medical autobiography and provide it to your doctors so they can have the information for their files.

    A digital copy should be kept on a flash drive and be kept your wallet as well as saved on your person’s computer. Having the document on your computer allows you to update the document as your health history changes.

    I hope this post will inspire you to develop your Medical Autobiography. Doing so allows you to be an active participant in your health and healthcare journey.

    Resources:
    File for Life: designed to make the difference between life and death by providing vital information to first responders. The File of Life format is modeled to be easy for patients to use and immediately recognized by local EMTs, police and fire departments nationwide. File of Life strives to maintain an open dialogue with communities across America to provide the most up-to-date, effective products and information possible. To learn more click here
    A Letter of Instructions to My Family:  In addition to your current Will, a Power of Attorney and a Living Will, individuals are encouraged to plan ahead and write messages to their family and executor detailing their specific desires regarding funeral and burial. Written instructions to your family and executor containing information and guidance will minimize uncertainty, confusion, and possible oversights following your death.  The information you furnish should ease the settlement of your estate and provide for an orderly winding-up of your affairs.  You need to share what you know with those who (often suddenly and without warning) must step into your shoes and carry out your final needs. For a sample letter of Instructions click here.
    Five Wishes:Five Wishes is America’s most popular living will because it is written in everyday language and helps people express their wishes in areas that matter most — the personal and spiritual in addition to the medical and legal. It also helps you describe what good care means to you, whether you are seriously ill or not. It allows your caregiver to know exactly what you want.  To learn more about Five Wishes, click here
    Professional Organizer: As I mentioned, the idea for this post come from a friend and colleague, Francine Yaffa of Francine Yaffa Organizing. As a professional organizer, Francine provides solutions to simplify lives by reducing clutter and putting streamlined systems in place. This optimizes space, time, and tasks and helps to increase productivity, accessibility, and functionality. Francine can help organize your personal health information onto one simple document as described in this post. You can reach Francine at fyaffa@yaffaorganizing.com / 954.970.0415
    I hope this information inspires you to create your own Medical Autobiography to share with those who you trust to have the information. If you have done this already, please take a minute to share how it has helped you to be an empowered patient. 
    Thank you for reading Nurse Advocate. Have a good week!

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