The Importance Of Having An Emergency Medical File
Stephanie Griffin |
You can never predict when or where an emergency will happen, but that does not mean you cannot be prepared. Having a file with all your medical information in one place that can be referred to quickly in an emergency could be life-saving.
All essential medical information should be carried with you at all times – such as your photo identification, list of allergies, and your insurance information. This can be printed and carried with you in your wallet, or for the more tech-savvy, there are many apps available to store this information safely in your phone. Your home emergency file, however, will be able to store much more information, which you, a relative, or a caregiver can easily access when needed.
Medication List
As many seniors are managing multiple medications, it can be tricky to remember the specifics of an entire medication regimen. Your emergency medical file should include a log of what prescriptions you are taking, who prescribed them, and what pharmacy filled that prescription. If you are also taking over-the-counter medications, indicate what they are and how often they are taken.
Physician List
In your emergency medical file, you should keep the name and contact information of your primary care physician (PCP) along with the name and information of any other physicians or specialists you are seeing. Keep track of when your last appointment with each physician on your list occurred.
Communications Log
Keep a log of any conversation you have with your physician or insurance company. Make sure to note the date and time the conversation took place as well as to whom you were speaking. This will be helpful if you need to reference a specific conversation or when you were given certain instructions, especially if there is ever a disagreement or conflicting accounts of conversations that occurred.
Advance Directives
Advance directives make your medical care preferences known should you be faced with serious illness or injury. Your medical wishes are more likely to be followed if you have a signed document stating what they are. If you do not already have advance directives, you can contact your attorney or call the Illinois Department on Aging Senior Helpline at 1-800-252-8966 to obtain the forms needed.
Advance directives can include a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, which is a request not to have CPR if your heart stops or if you have stopped breathing. Other advance directives include your preferences for palliative care, if and for how long you would like to be placed on a ventilator, if and for how long you would like to be placed on tube feeding, and your request for organ donation.
Medical Power of Attorney
A medical power of attorney (POA) is a legal document used to name a person as your proxy to make tough medical decisions when you no longer have the capacity to do so. Having a copy of your medical POA in your emergency medical file is crucial in ensuring any emergency medical staff know who to turn to when medical decisions need to be made. Make sure the contact information for your POA is included in your file and that it is up to date.
Photo Identification and Insurance Information
Emergency rooms are required to treat patients even if they do not have photo identification, however many urgent care centers require identification before treating a patient. Keep a photocopy of your driver’s license or state ID in your emergency medical file in case you do not have your wallet handy in an emergency situation. Likewise, keep a photocopy of all insurance cards (including Medicare and Medicaid if applicable) to ensure the care you receive is billed correctly from the start of care.
Using Your Emergency Medical File
Anyone with caregiving responsibilities should be made aware of the location of the emergency medical file – including trusted family, friends, and in-home caregivers. If multiple family members in the same household require emergency medical files, use differently colored files that are clearly labeled so they can be grabbed swiftly in an emergency. Make sure to keep your file updated with the latest necessary information after each doctor’s appointment or hospital stay.
Your file should be given to paramedics responding to a 911 call or directly to your emergency room doctors when you are experiencing a medical emergency. This can help guarantee any physician providing you with emergency services has all the information they need for you to receive the best, most personalized care in a time when you need it most.
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