I'm also thinking I would LOVE to keep track of the costs. What started this blog today I guess was getting a copy of my monthly "medical/hospital claim". A month or so ago I had a MOHS procedure to double check a 4 mm (that's 0.15 inches) basal cell carcinoma on my nose. Does anyone ever die from basal cell? I don't think so. But when they add that word "carcinoma" to any conversation
car·ci·no·ma
ˌkärsəˈnōmə/
noun
a cancer arising in the epithelial tissue of the skin
or of the lining of the internal organs.
you know you are reeled in. I was at the clinic for about two hours. The total billed? $4,000.00. The amount "allowed" by Medicare was $1,000.00. My share? NOTHING. This seems crazy ... why would a Dr even take a Medicare patient? I digress. Fixing Medicare will be blogged about next week.
Keeping a medical journal. In lieu of having software that will share information between doctors and clinics and hospitals and specialists and patients, I must be Knowledge Central. Maybe not about the $$$ aspect, but EVERY new office (or office I haven't visited in the past three years) has you fill out an information form. Soon perhaps I won't remember what happened when (or why). So do any of you have a medical journal? Suggestions, please? Color code? Spreadsheet? Tabs? Cool hip binder or Grandma black?
I keep a list of my meds: name, dosage, time of day I take them (morning or night). I had my 6-month checkup this morning and my doc thanked me for keeping a list. Even though all our docs practice at the same hospital and they all have access to our records, she checks the list each time. So do nurses when ever I have a procedure. I guess they are being extra careful. We are lucky to receive all of our information on the portal. It’s great. They notify us of all our tests results, too. H still keeps a file of some things. A file might be a good choice for you.
ReplyDeleteThen I guess it is time. More information is better than no information! Excellent! Another project!
DeleteHey Bella--I can't access your blog anymore. How do I get in there?
Deletejjmiller6213@comcast.net
Your health insurance probably paid the $3K.
ReplyDeleteYes--I have a spreadsheet list of my meds, the dosages, what time of day I take them, also the vaccines I have received lately, the date, the two hip replacements and dates and ALSO, what my mother and father died of, and their ages at death.
I carry this in my purse and when at a new doc or in the ER and they want to know what meds I take, I hand them the list!! I don't like answering those questions when I am in ER and flustered and with my shaky hand, I don't like writing them down on a new doc's form. Let them type in that info from my list. LOL
Oh perfect! I would have forgotten extended family issues. Great idea....a spreadsheet will be easier for me to keep updated. Project for next week ...
DeleteI was better at this, but now I have a list of my meds in my billfold. Record keeping---not so great. Actually, my husband always filed the short form in taxes, so keeping mileage records and all seem for nought! 😖
ReplyDeleteI take a 5 x 7 notebook to all my doctor appointments to record what I want to ask and their answers and my vital stats plus medication list, etc, etc. When someone asks about my medications I just show them a page in the notebook.
ReplyDeleteHow do you update the medication page? I usually put my questions on my iPhone and then the answers beside them. If I do a spreadsheet, I can store it on the cloud then look at it while at the office .... and bring him/her a printed out copy.
DeleteWe are having SUMMER today ... sunny and high of 84!
I just write a new medication page if and when I get a new medication which is rare. I have a line at the top labeled: Updated ____ where I list the dates when I review or tweaked the list. I don't like have a bunch of stuff like and banking on my phone. If I lose my phone what are the chances of getting it back? I do have ICE on my phone for the basics with includes a medication list. I only take three prescriptions so it's not hard and I wear a bracelet with what meds I'm allergic to.
DeleteSo far, I just have three also. Hope I stay as lucky!!! Since I found an iPhone forgotten in the ladies room, I make my own screen that says "This phone belongs to JB Lockhart. Please call my daughter Kate at 503-319-9319 and one of us will come pick it up" When in Maui, I used a friend/neighbor. So far, haven't lost it!!! (knock on wood(
DeleteI need to make a screen like that.
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