If you’re just stumbling across this, please click here for the other posts in the series.

What Should You Keep?

When it comes to health records, you have several options.  Personally, I like to get and keep copies of all of our records from doctors’ offices and hospitals, because we had issues when I was a child with records getting lost.  So I like to have a “backup” copy.  But the fact is, most offices will charge you an arm and a leg for copies, and you don’t have to have these, so whether or not you do this is up to you.

Either way, you probably do want to have some sort of “overview” records for each family member, recording things like:

• what vaccinations he has received (if any), and when
• illness history (I’m not talking about every cold.  Just “biggies.”)
• surgical history
• pregnancy histories for the mama in the family
• what doctors he sees, with contact information

…and so on.

I really like the recordkeeping recommendations offered in Shonda Parker‘s Mommy Diagnostics.  (I wish she had a printable version available but, as far as I’m aware, she does not.  I just copied it all over from the book so I had something to print out.)

[Update: Although Shonda Parker doesn’t have a printable version of her forms, that I’m aware of, Angi Schneider has a great set of recordkeeping forms that cover most, if not all, of the same information.  You can check out her Wellness Notebook here.]

If You Keep Extensive Health Records

If you keep extensive records (copies of everything from the doctors’ offices), you will probably want actual files (that is, folders) — one per person.  If this is the case, you can either keep your “overview” forms in there, as well, or you can keep them separate.  If you tend to have trouble with the pages all falling out, you might consider a 2-hole punch and 2-pronged fasteners to hold everything together, just like at the doctor’s office.

If You Keep Only an Overview

If you only keep the “overview” records, you probably don’t need separate file folders.  In this case, you can probably keep them in your household notebook.  If you’d like them to be portable (for instance, if you take them with you to the doctor’s office), you could put them in their own folder.  It all depends on what meets your needs.

STEP 1: Find or create forms for keeping track of your family members’ health records.

STEP 2: Create a place/places for this information.

STEP 3: Gather and/or record the necessary information in the appropriate place.

Resources:

Find a variety of printable medical forms here.

Barbara mentioned in the comments a USB Medic Alert bracelet.  I’d never seen these before, but these look like a particularly good option for someone who has significant health issues and/or travels a lot alone.

If you’re just stumbling across this, please click here for the other posts in the series.

Updated Sep. 22, 2019.  Originally published Mar. 12, 2013.