Why Carry Records

Why should I have to keep this information? Isn’t that the doctors’ job?

Similar to the example in this discussion, patients often arrive at hospitals without any information about their medical problems. This presents a difficult and potentially dangerous situation. Although the tests and medicines doctors have are very powerful, they can also be unsafe if used on the wrong person. Knowledge of your medical problems can effectively prevent giving you the wrong medication or performing a risky test.

Additionally, many of these tests are time consuming and can delay important treatments. If you carry their own medical information, it can allow doctors to save time and provide care more efficiently. In an emergency, this can sometimes mean the difference between life and death.

These tests can also be very expensive and might not be necessary. However, when doctors have no knowledge of a patient’s medical history, they are forced to perform these tests at great cost. When patients carry their medical information, this has the added advantage of being less expensive while actually allowing a higher level of care.

Finally, beyond the need to provide immediate care is the importance of contacting family, friends, and physicians. Not only can these people provide important information, but they also can offer much-needed support for you. Having the ability to contact families early in your care can help simplify very complicated situations.

Emergency medical care can be life-saving but is often filled with difficult and expensive decisions that must be made as rapidly as possible. Maintaining your own records is one of the best ways for you to take an active role in your own health care and ensure that you receive rapid, effective, and safe treatment in both emergency and routine medical situations.