Book helps patients keep facts handy

By Bevin Milavsky
The Daily Item
July 27, 2004

(Muncy, PA) — A Muncy woman has created a tool to help people take control of their own health care history.
My Medical Assistant®, a personal medical organizer designed by Donna McCaslin, allows people to carry their medical records with them.

McCaslin created the book so she could have a record of the medications she takes and her medical history when she travels. She said she realized that if anything happened to her away from home, even her husband would not know how to answer all the medical questions.

"It is a book that’s appropriate for any age or any circumstance," she said.

She said health care providers are encouraging people to take a more active role in their health, and My Medical Assistant® is a way of organizing records so they are available in the case of an emergency.

"Many times when we’re needing to give information, it’s under stressful situations," she said.
My Medical Assistant® is a three-ring binder with pages for personal information, family medical history, allergies, medications, doctors, tests, therapy and hospital visits.

"I wanted something that was appealing, small enough to be carried easily, flexible and attractive," she said.
The books are not specific to any disease, but McCaslin said people can easily add their own pages or records straight from doctors’ offices.

She said people should be sure to keep the book updated so the information is correct if it is needed.

"The day of the family doctor who knows all of our records has passed," she said. "This helps a doctor see the whole picture."

Dr. James Patterson, a family practice physician with Evangelical Community Hospital, said the book is a good idea if people keep it up to date. He said it should definitely include relevant surgeries, allergies, medications and a record of the most recent EKG for cardiac patients.

And he said anyone on medications needs to know what they’re taking. He said it can also help doctors keep track of shared patients.

"Most people see more than one physician," he said. "A lot of times, communication is lacking between physicians and we don’t know what the other doctor’s done."

He said it can also expedite the process of rendering care in the case of an emergency if a patient has a copy of medical records since it can be time-consuming to procure records from another doctor or hospital.

Another crucial aspect to remember for patients who take indictable medications and travel, he added, is to have a note from their doctors explaining why they need the medications.

McCaslin has been marketing the book in the area for about a year, and she has sold 2,000 copies. The book is available at a number of area locations including some pharmacies and Evangelical Community Hospital.

"The most important thing that needs to be started is people need to keep their records," McCaslin said. "I’ve simply made a vehicle to make that happen."