Gather all pertinent health information from:

• Files at home containing information from physician visits or hospital admissions
• Pertinent information that might be contained in billing records from physician or hospital visits
• Identification cards or immunization records prepared by health care providers
• Information provided by your pharmacy or with the prescriptions you receive
• Information contained in insurance billings or other documents
• All other sources or pertinent records containing relevent personal and family health history              

Once you have this information in a single location you are ready to begin building a personal health history and (PHR).  You are also entitled to copies of your personal health information maintained by your physician or health care provider.  You will want to discuss with them what information they have on file and how to obtain copies for your records as well.  Learn more about obtaining your health information from health care providers by reading Dave deBronkart's (@ePatientDave on Twitter)  blog article entitled "Gimme My D***  Data".  

Managing your health information is like balancing your checkbook....it will become easier if you work on maintaining and updating your information on a regular basis.  Gather information, organize it and share it on a regular basis with your health care providers.  

Spend a few minutes learning more by reading some of the following.....

Tracing Your Medical Roots: Crucial Information Might Save Your Life... (read more) 

Keeping a written health history can improve the health care you get and help you stay well... (read more from AARP)

Experts believe the time is ripe for patients to create their own electronic personal health record.... (read more)

What should my PHR contain? (via American Heart Association)... (read more)          

For more information on starting your personal health record click here...

Use our FREE Quickstart ePHR* to create an Emergency Personal Health Record and Emergency Medical Identification Card now...  

*patents pending