Full-time RVing: More Than Beautiful Scenery©
My Medical Assistant

Alice Zyetz
May, 2005, RV Lifestyle column

This month I want to talk about what happens when we need medical care on the road. You are usually seeing a new doctor or are in a new medical facility that does not have your records. You or your traveling partner must fill out those long forms asking about prior surgeries, illnesses, medications, and your parents’ illnesses.

Just recently, a new doctor asked my husband Chuck when he had a particular surgery. Chuck looked at me and I looked in the air trying to remember. "Well it was before we went on the road, so we were still in Los Angeles, but it wasn’t the surgery you had when we were helping friend Rhea move and you couldn’t lift anything, no it was after that, but before . . ."

You get the picture?

As travelers, it is hard to remember ALL the vital facts at a time when we are not feeling our best. In addition, the person accompanying you may not know all your information. When Jaimie and I did the RV Authors’ Cooperative at Escapade, we came across a book that will help you resolve this problem.

Donna McCaslin has created a portable records organizer specifically for medical and insurance data, recording personal as well as family histories, previous tests, current medications, allergic reactions. Her book, My Medical Assistant®, is sold as a three-ring binder, 9 inches long and 7 1/4 inches wide, small enough to travel easily. Using separate colors, there is enough room to keep information for two people traveling together. Refill pages can be ordered from her Website.

We highly recommend this clearly designed medical journal to accompany you as you travel. You will only have to sit down one time and gather your information. From then on, just bring the book with you to your appointments and immediately add new information as it happens.

http://www.fulltimerving.com/