Medical Binder

If you don't have a medical binder I would highly recommend starting one. You can organize yours however you like this is how I organize mine:

Medical Information Page: Name, Allergies, Current Medications, Vitamins, list of current physician's and their contact information.

Previous physicians: This page include their contact information as well.

Notes: I keep a page of notes for each doctor I see where I jot down any notes that are important during my visit and anything I want to ask during my next visit....
      example: need to schedule blood work, ask doc about xx test next visit


Important Medical Information: list of surgeries, dates of major diagnosis, hospitalizations, vaccination records

Lab Records: Organized by date. At the end of the year I place the previous years records in folder.

Copy of my health care power of attorney: which is a legal document that lists my wishes and who I want to advocate for me in a situation where I cannot advocate for myself.

In the front pocket, I keep current things that need to be completed, for example, lab work or receipts from a recent visit,  prescriptions that need to be filled, etc.

I take the binder with me when I go to the doctor. This is helpful for when you have different doctors ordering different tests or when going to a new doc for the first time.

It may sound like a lot to do at first but it is not a difficult project to maintain. It has paid dividends for me especially when moving to a new city and changing insurance providers.