Isn’t it interesting that in this time of electronic medical files, the professionals working with my husband still don’t seem to be able to share information in a timely and useful manner?

We started keeping a notebook that houses all of his medical information and appointments. All of his doctor’s business cards are in the front followed by a listing of his current diagnosis, medications and schedule. Then there are different sections for his various medical concerns. For example, he has one section for his appointments with his neurologist and another for his visits with his primary care physician. There is a section for the surgeon who operated on his shoulder and another for the physical therapist he sees. I know that all of this information is accessible on-line but not all of the doctors share files. By keeping all of the after-visit summaries in one place, we make sure the information is always available. All we have to do is grab the binder and head to the appointment.

We include copies of legal documents such as his POLST form, his Medical Advance Directive, and the Power of Attorney that allows me to make medical decisions for him. It is challenging enough to know I might have to make difficult decisions without having to try to find the correct document in the moment. Again, it is all in the binder ready for any emergency.