Personal Healthcare Journal Helps Users Take Control of Their Medical Information

Designed by registered nurse Mark Bird, the Personal Healthcare Journal acts as a "personal medical chart" that patients can take with them to healthcare appointments, giving providers a quick and easy reference guide to patients' health and treatment.

The journal offers sections for personal information, family medical history, medications and allergies, pertinent legal information such as healthcare proxy information and power of attorney, immunization schedules, a diabetes care log and a weight loss diary. Presented in an easy-to- handle three-ring binder format, pages are easily removed for photocopying, and pockets provide storage for copies of test results and legal documents.

Bird, who also serves as a personal healthcare consultant, recalled one instance where he took a client to an appointment with her neurologist. At the time, the patient did not have a copy of her medical history. "At the appointment, we learned that one doctor said the woman had dementia. However, the neurologist determined that she needed an adjustment in medication," he said. "The woman was also having trouble remembering to take her medication as prescribed. Instead, she just took the ones she wanted to."
After the appointment, Bird and his client filled out the journal with the new medication regimen — and they found another unexpected piece of information. "We learned that the client's daughter was not the healthcare proxy as previously thought," he said. "The daughter whom was helping her and making decisions was not the legal person. We were able to fill out the appropriate legal forms and update the journal to change the daughter to my client's healthcare proxy." At the patient's next appointment, she had all of the medical history and legal information necessary to help find the appropriate treatment.
Mark Bird, RN, EMT-P is a flight nurse on a trauma helicopter and president of his company, Personal Healthcare Consultants Inc. He has worked in hospital settings since 1994, with special training in critical care.
If you would like more information on this topic, or to schedule an interview, call Mark Bird at 941-377-1241 or email Mark at info@personalhealthcarejournal.com.