Because of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), all patients now have the right to access their personal medical history records. If you've filled out any personal medical history questionnaire forms at your doctor's office, you might remember filling out a HIPAA form that asked you who you wanted to allow to see your medical information. Now you can either write your doctor and request your personal medical history information or use an online personal medical history lookup service. You can then store your medical history on your computer to have to take to doctor's appointments or use in case of emergency.
Things to know about accessing your medical records and creating a personal medical history database:
1. Become a member of a personal medical history lookup service to get access to your personal history medical forms.
2. Create a database online of you and your family's personal medical history.
3. Use software to create a medical history for yourself and your family that you can print out and take to doctor's appointments.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Subscribe to an online personal medical history lookup service
There are many personal medical history lookup services online. Usually you have to become a member of the site to access its features, but this is a great way to have your personal medical history and that of your family members available to you at all times.
I recommend: Sign up with
MyMedicalRecords.com to access and store your personal medical history forms and documents securely; then easily retrieve them whenever you want. Become a member of
PinnacleCare and have the ability to look at your personal medical history charts whenever you want.
Create personal medical history databases for you and your family
There are many websites where you can create a personal medical database for each member of your family so that your access to medical information is only a click away.
I recommend: Go to
My Family Health Report, which is a medical record personal history tool from the U.S. Surgeon General. You can either use the tool online or download it to your computer to create and store a personal medical history form for you and each member of your family. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a service called
My Medicine Record, where you can create your personal medical history chart and store it on your computer.
Use personal medical history software to create a database of your medical information
Another way to keep track of medical history information is to use software. Many people prefer this because they're not comfortable having their personal information stored online where it could be accessed by unknown parties. There are many kinds of software available that let you input your information to create personal and family medical health history forms for each member of your family.
I recommend: Records for Living is a personal medical history software designed to create personal history medical info sheets that you store on your computer. Try the free trial of the
HealthFile medical history software to create personal medical health history forms on your computer or PDA.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Having a copy of your medical record personal history is a great way to keep track of what prescriptions you're taking or what allergic reactions you may have to medications. This can ultimately help your doctor to take better care of you.
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