Are you prepared for the possibility of a medical emergency for either yourself or a loved one? Collecting and writing down some important information could make a world of difference in the outcome of a difficult situation. After talking to a dear friend who was recently in an auto accident, I have put together a list on what a health care professional would find beneficial.
-
Names of health care providers~ all of the pertinent contact information. Physician, dentist, pharmacist, medical specialist, social worker/caseworker.
-
Birth Date~ often medical records and insurance information are cataloged according to birth date.
-
Medical History~ standard blood pressure , surgeries, diabetes, etc.
-
A list of Medications~ (all prescription and non-prescription drugs) that includes the name of the pharmacy dispensing the drug, the physician prescribed the drug, the dosage, the amount that is taken and when.
-
List of Allergies~
-
Special instructions~ such as a living will, or durable power of attorney for health care decision-making purposes. Do you or your loved one have advanced directives outlining decisions made about health care, such as whether or not efforts to resuscitate should be made, or the use of life support machines? Also instructions for the individual you (and the care recipient) have designated to provide medical information on your behalf, if you are unable.
-
Insurance information~ the name of all health insurance providers and their policy numbers. Personal insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, Long-term care, etc.
-
Lifestyle information~ such as alcohol or tobacco use
-
Religious beliefs~ the desires for care that go with this spirituality
-
Access to home~ instructions to get into your home in order to tend to pets, plants, legal documents, etc.
Having this information readly available will not only save your loved ones hours of searching but will also provide your healthcare professionals the information they need to excell in giving you care. My friend who was in the auto accident was not prepared and didn’t receive her anit-depressant for several days, this made a bad situation worse. I encourage you to be proactive!
What would you like to add to this list?
No related posts.
