Keeping your own personal health records is critical when it comes preventing Medical Identity Theft. This record can be paper or electronic. Also there are a number of online solutions. The American Health Information Management Association can help you in creating your own records. Their web site is www.myphr.com. Portable storage devices, CD’s or flash drives even a smart phone can be used to create your electronic record. The disadvantage is it may be lost or damaged and physician offices may not be able to read your records.
The following components should be included: Personal identification; emergency contacts (including phone numbers); health care providers (including specialists, dentists, pharmacists and their phone numbers); health insurance information; living will, advanced directives or power of attorney; organ donor authorization; current medications and dosages; allergies; immunizations; significant surgeries or illnesses; results from recent exams; and family history.
There are a number of resources and advocacy groups that help patients navigate the health care systems, an example being Guardian Nurses Healthcare Advocates.
If you have your own information always available to you, if someone tries to steal your medical identity you have your own records that are up to date and safe in your hands, thus preventing the HIPAA nightmare of trying to change what never really belonged to you. Be proactive in your health and all records involved with your care.