Community Forums

beamisl · 09-27-2014, 11:14 AM

Hello All,

I have been reading through several threads and noticed there is often conversation r/e medical care and medication renewals.

Having worked in the medical field for 33 yrs I think there is something else many may be missing. Do you carry your medical info with you? Do you have your physicians full name, address, and FAX #? If not, you should.

We often have patients who have no idea what meds they are on, what their medical condition is actually called ( do they have A FIB or A Flutter or Pacemaker or AICD). They can't give you info on how to get the info to their doctor and when you are from "out of town" it is not always the easiest thing for us to get.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to carry a medical card with the following info.

Your FULL name
DOB
State you are FullTime in a RV/MH
Phone number
Closest emergency contact person / relationship/ their phone numberS

Your meds and amounts and how often taken
Your Physician and his/her info and fax ( include all doctors and specialty)
All medical conditions (DM, HTN) and so on

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE DO YOU KEEP THIS?

Under your drivers license in your billfold or purse. It needs to be folded and on the outside write:

Medical info for Your Name

Ambulance, Fire, and Police will go to your billfold to get a picture ID of you and when they pull your license out they will see the paper with your info on it. Recipe cards work great for this.

In an emergency situation, this can SAVE YOUR LIFE! Hours later when they finally track someone down is too late to help you. If you are unconscious you cannot help yourself. If you are seriously hurt or failing your spouse may not know your meds and conditions or they are too upset to remember. If it is the weekend, night, or holiday your doctors office will not be open and neither will your pharmacy.

I cannot tell you how many times people have died for lack of information and delay in emergent care. Don't let this happen to you.

You should keep a file in your RV with lab reports, cath reports, surgical reports, pacemaker settings and contact info. If you need it (in a non emergent situation) then you will have it.

If you go into a ER or clinic (while on the road) have all copies E-mailed to you or sent to your mail box. Add these to your file in your RV. It becomes very difficult to get reports when you are 500 miles down the road.

It really is our responsibility to take care of this info. I often hear "My wife knows". What about when she dies? Who knows then?

Hope you all stay safe on the road because I sure look forward to meeting many of you in the future. Take care and keep safe!

Lynne

usaperuvian · 09-27-2014, 12:39 PM

Lynn, much of what you say is what my doctor has advised me of too. And I have a medical bracelet, medical info in wallet. But I have many medical issues and don't carry my medical file because it is very large

Do you think having my primary doctor aware that I travel in the RV and she has my complete medical file is enough? Or should I go and have a copy made and keep in the RV?

wa8yxm · 09-27-2014, 01:05 PM

I carry two things.
One is a necklace, on it is a well known symbol and two numbers.

One is a 1-800 number, the other is my personal ID number, this medallion is sold by an little known outfit called Medic-Alert, and I update my file there often.

The second is ... The printed Patient EMIR card they let me download and print.

beamisl · 09-27-2014, 02:17 PM

Joani and Alberto,

The problem with not having the MAIN Medical Info with you is your doctors office is closed every evening and weekend and holiday. Medical issues often come during closed hours and that is when it is most needed. Heart Attacks are often prior to 7am.

Medic alert is great! Be aware that most ERs will not download discs that you have your medical info on because if there is a virus on it it would destroy their system. They will NOT take that chance.

You do not need your entire medical file with you. Just the most pertinent info. Do you have a rare blood disorder, leukemia, cancer, genetic issues. I have list of my surgeries on the medical card I carry under my license. I have two spinal fusions and in an accident this would be very important info.

I cannot stress enough that this list should be under your license and marked so that emergency personnel see that it is medical info for (your name) and not with your insurance cards. In a real intense emergency insurance cards are not looked for until later.

Just choose what you think they may really need and take it with you. Doesn't need to be a book. Medication list is absolutely necessary. High BP, diabetic, that type of thing. If you have a port of some sort that info should be included. Allergies!

Just guard yourself so that medical personnel can do a fast and accurate job of taking care of you.

We have people come in with 2 or 3 medical lists and no name on it. One is theirs, another their spouses, and another a parents or child's. So how do we tell which is yours? It needs a name.

Just protect yourself, Lynne

Nick B · 09-27-2014, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamisl

Hello All,

I have been reading through several threads and noticed there is often conversation r/e medical care and medication renewals.

Having worked in the medical field for 33 yrs I think there is something else many may be missing. Do you carry your medical info with you? Do you have your physicians full name, address, and FAX #? If not, you should.

We often have patients who have no idea what meds they are on, what their medical condition is actually called ( do they have A FIB or A Flutter or Pacemaker or AICD). They can't give you info on how to get the info to their doctor and when you are from "out of town" it is not always the easiest thing for us to get.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to carry a medical card with the following info.

Your FULL name
DOB
State you are FullTime in a RV/MH
Phone number
Closest emergency contact person / relationship/ their phone numberS

Your meds and amounts and how often taken
Your Physician and his/her info and fax ( include all doctors and specialty)
All medical conditions (DM, HTN) and so on

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS WHERE DO YOU KEEP THIS?

Under your drivers license in your billfold or purse. It needs to be folded and on the outside write:

Medical info for Your Name

Ambulance, Fire, and Police will go to your billfold to get a picture ID of you and when they pull your license out they will see the paper with your info on it. Recipe cards work great for this.

In an emergency situation, this can SAVE YOUR LIFE! Hours later when they finally track someone down is too late to help you. If you are unconscious you cannot help yourself. If you are seriously hurt or failing your spouse may not know your meds and conditions or they are too upset to remember. If it is the weekend, night, or holiday your doctors office will not be open and neither will your pharmacy.

I cannot tell you how many times people have died for lack of information and delay in emergent care. Don't let this happen to you.

You should keep a file in your RV with lab reports, cath reports, surgical reports, pacemaker settings and contact info. If you need it (in a non emergent situation) then you will have it.

If you go into a ER or clinic (while on the road) have all copies E-mailed to you or sent to your mail box. Add these to your file in your RV. It becomes very difficult to get reports when you are 500 miles down the road.

It really is our responsibility to take care of this info. I often hear "My wife knows". What about when she dies? Who knows then?

Hope you all stay safe on the road because I sure look forward to meeting many of you in the future. Take care and keep safe!

Lynne

Lynne, right on! I had to check into hospital a couple of months back for a day procedure, and the admitting nurse asked my what procedures and medications I was on. When I told her I had them stored in my iPhone, she (quite rightly) let loose with both barrels. The message was, if you get involved in an accident, no-one is going to be able to access that data. She told me if I was smart, I would print out the details, and store it in my wallet.

At the end of that day, I had four copies (size of a business card) made up with the data, sealed in clear tape, inside my wallet.

It's a great suggestion. Such a simple thing can save your life.

Nick B

Dog Folks · 09-27-2014, 06:53 PM

I have three page outline of all my penitent medical information, including surgeons, Drs. Name etc. The last page is a current list of medications, as it is quite long.

I find it ironic that the complete medical record of my 4 year old dog, since he was 12 weeks old, is available by computer at any Banfield instantly, in the entire country.

My local hoptial cannot even communictae with the day surgery area, in a separate building, one block away, that they own!!!

beamisl · 09-28-2014, 07:46 AM

Yes, because of HIPPA there is a limit of what can be shared and employees (because of threat of loss of employment) get very cautious of giving out anything. Your dog wouldn't know to sue.

Nick B, where do you keep that info? I cannot stress enough it should be with your license and not insurance cards. It can save your life in an emergency.

With so many more people traveling the roads in MHs and RVs and full timing, this really needs to become normal knowledge and practiced. You cannot rely on anyone else protecting you, it is your job.

One more safety feature while driving on the road. Think about it like keeping good tires on your rig.

Keep safe everyone, hope to meet you on the road some day and not in a medical capacity.

Lynne

Finally Time · 09-28-2014, 10:30 AM

I use the interactive version of Road ID Road ID | USA's #1 Source for Runners ID, Cycling ID & Medical ID Tags
Whenever I go out without my wallet I wear the "Slim" wristband. It has my name and emergency instructions and a serial number & PIN for First Responders to use to call a phone number or go to a website for all my medical, emergency contacts, and personal information. The information available on the website is entered by me and can be as detailed as I want. It is only accessible by others if they use my serial # and PIN which is engraved on the back of the metal ID. If you go to the FAQ's it explains the interactive version in detail. The service is cheap; initial cost for the interactive Slim is $19.99 for the wristband, engraved metal ID, and one year of the interactive service. Each additional year is $9.99.

Textronics · 09-28-2014, 10:50 AM

I have Medic Alert & so does DH. I also carry Rx details in my iPhone & ipad. I was hospitalized overnight for chest pains over July 4th weekend & had to tell 4 different people my list of meds in the ER. I now carry a printed copy & so does DH in purse/wallet. In addition, our local hospital does a "Vial of Life" campaign. I put one set in the house fridge & one in the RV fridge along with the magnetic decal on the outside.

dsbike · 09-28-2014, 11:38 AM

Lynne, thanks for the reminder. I do carry this in my wallet with my drivers lic. However I needed to update it & I just did. Thanks, by the way my DW is an ED nurse, she did this for us along time ago. I am sure she has run into the same issues you have with her patients.

hes4all · 09-28-2014, 02:06 PM

My wife and I us Docubank, we set it up when we did our trust. Very nice to have and has all our information for medical and DNR if needed.

Hope not for a while with the DNR.

MartySQ · 09-28-2014, 02:17 PM

This is very good info, however, I need to add, if you travel with pets... please keep their info handy also! I am a pet sitter and I give out a pamphlet that explains all this and has a form you can fill out , fold in half and put in a pencil bag with a clear window side that you can attach to your pet's crate... if you use one when moving down the road... that way the emt's/police/hypo have the info right there and the dog/cat doesn't run off in an accident if they are crated. If there is an accident, you might not be in shape to tell them the pet's info either....

beamisl · 09-28-2014, 07:24 PM

Any ER nurse would agree with this as they have definitely taken care of patients who had no info with them or could not speak due to injuries or condition.

Did not think about the animals but that would sure be important. I am an animal lover but have not had one in 3 years. Had to put the last three animals down and it about destroyed me.

I think any way you keep the info, as long as you have something that can be accessed quickly, will work just fine. People tend to think that it will never happen to them but it does.

Anyone else with a way of keeping track of medical info please let us know since we all need to find a way that works for each of us.

If this saves one person's life it is worth the time and effort to write and read it. I have found so many useful threads on this forum and appreciate all the info that each of you has given to it.

Keep safe and hope to meet many of you on the road in 3 years when I retire.

Lynne

JimnDawn · 10-05-2014, 08:24 AM

Than you for this suggestion, Lynne. Jim & I are going to get the card in our wallets today. Fortunately, our PCP also has our healthcare powers of attorney. Our children also have copies of our healthcare powers of attorney, advanced directives and a list of our passwords. Check out Get Your **** Together | Life and Death Planning: Low effort, high reward.. It's a great source of information & prompting if you need to get your wills, healthcare power of attorney & advanced directives available should they be needed by your family in the event of an emergency.