Keeping a Medical History for Everyone in the Household

What goes on the page

Add family history too: conditions a parent or sibling had, such as heart disease or certain cancers. Doctors use it to decide what to screen for.

Getting copies of records

Under HIPAA, you have the right to a copy of your own medical records. A provider generally must respond within 30 days, with one 30-day extension allowed. They can charge a reasonable fee for copies.

• Patient portals are the fastest route. Most let you download visit notes, test results and a summary.
• Proxy access lets a parent or caregiver see another person's portal. Ask the practice to set it up rather than sharing a login.
• A HIPAA authorization lets doctors talk to the people you name. Without one, even a spouse can be kept out of the conversation.

Keep it current

Update a page after any new diagnosis, surgery or change of doctor. Once a year, at a physical, is a good time to check the whole thing.

The medication list

Of everything on the page, the medication list matters most in an emergency. Doctors need it to avoid dangerous combinations and to understand symptoms.

If there is no time to find the list, bring the pill bottles in a bag. Hospital staff can read the labels.

Family history: what to ask relatives

Family history helps doctors decide what to screen for and when. Ask parents, siblings and grandparents while you can.

• Which conditions they have had, especially heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancers and mental health conditions
• How old they were when each was diagnosed
• For relatives who have died, the cause and their age

Early diagnoses matter most. A parent with heart disease at 50 means something different from one at 85.

Helping a parent with their health records

If you go to appointments with a parent, ask them to sign a HIPAA authorization naming you, and ask the practice to set up proxy access to their patient portal. Keep one notebook or shared note for appointments: what was said, what changed, and the next step. It is often the only record that connects several doctors.