IACAN’s Community Education Outreach Event

HOUSTON: Summary of presentation by Bunmi Ogunleye, M.Sc., CHES., RHIA, Manager, HIM, Harris Health System, at IACAN’s community education outreach event “Navigating Health Resources” held on Sunday, March 22 at India House
“TAKE NOTE…. YOUR HEALTH and YOUR MEDICAL RECORD”

MAINTAINING YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD: is an important step to managing your health.  It promotes your ability to partner with your health care physicians and providers on the journey of achieving your best maximum health.

Medical record and Personal Health Record are slightly differing terms; medical record is kept by your health care provider/ health care facility, while Personal Health record is kept by you (the patient).  The provider/Health care facility owns their medical record. However, the information contained in the medical record belongs to patient.  The provider / health care facility may charge for disclosure of the medical record they keep.  On the other hand, you own your personal health record and the information contained belongs to you.  You update it as often as you like.  Your Health Record is a good tool for tracking and managing your health conditions, record family health histories and or share current or past medical information about your health.

Your Personal Health Record does not replace the provider’s / health care facility’s Legal Medical Record.  The purpose of your Personal Health Record is simply to help you to manage your health care related activities in a more meaningful ways.
Try your best to keep a reliable, accurate, and complete personal health record.  Remember to update them on an on-going basis.

REASONS FOR KEEPING PERSONAL HEALTH RECORD
Knowledge about your health condition is powerful to your speedy recovery
Changing doctors
Saves money in repeated test, and medical record disclosure fees
Saves you time and inconveniency of repeating routine medical test
Reduce repeated exposure to radiation
Smooth and knowledgeable communication with your provider
Promotes proper health care
Feel more in control of your health
Always available when you need it: your doctor moved out of town, Hurricane and other disaster may destroy record at original facility
Share with your doctor, family members/ caregivers
Have your medical histories in case of emergency
Seek second opinion
Details about your previous diagnosis and treatment can help your doctor design a new treatment
Caring for your elderly
Helps you manage health insurance claims, taxes, and other legal matters Helps you provide supportive documentation in disability insurance and life insurance claims
Helps your children and future grand children with their health