Being the Champion of Care

One of the most important roles of a caregiver is to coordinate the medical care their loved-one receives. As medical needs grow, we often need to see specialists, have lab work done, go to therapists, and change care facilities. We would like to assume that our loved-one’s complete medical information is automatically moved from one office to another. This rarely occurs. It falls on the caregiver to ensure that the critical information is received and read by the healthcare provider.

Here are some good practices to help make this happen.

  • A few days before an appointment, start writing down everything the healthcare provider needs to know. Start with medications, diagnoses, the latest lab work, vitals, and any concerns you have. Also, get a thumb drive (a flash drive or electronic memory device). You will use this to collect information after the appointment.
  • During the appointment, be sure the provider acknowledges the information you have brought with you and understands why you are asking them to read it. At the end of the appointment, ask the provider or their staff to give you an electronic copy of the visit. This should include any vitals taken during the appointment, the provider’s notes, care instruction, prescriptions, radiology images, test results, and referrals. If the staff needs time to prepare the information, ask how you may access the information remotely.

Keep in mind that it is in the provider’s interest to help you coordinate care. They also benefit from having a focused caregiver that can bring them the information they need to provide the best care for your loved-one.