Shelf Life

In our fragmented health care system, access to information may be the biggest risk

Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD Jul 20, 2023

Heard on:

Shelf Life

In our fragmented health care system, access to information may be the biggest risk

Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD Jul 20, 2023

Heard on:

"Our electronic medical records are extremely disorganized," said Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz, who discusses the time doctors waste searching for patient information in her book "Fragmented." Apu Gomes/AFP via Getty Images

It’s easy to assume that when you go to the doctor, they’ll have access to your medical history, especially with electronic medical records becoming the norm. But in reality, those records don’t always translate between health care providers, and that can lead to all sorts of problems.

“One of my patients could have received care at a health care facility literally just up the street from me, but when they transfer from that facility over to my office, I don’t always have access to the medical records that were kept there,” said Dr. Ilana Yurkiewicz, a primary care physician and oncologist on the faculty at Stanford Medicine. “As it stands, our electronic medical records are extremely disorganized.”

Yurkiewicz wrote about providers’ struggles to get information and how that impacts patients in her book, “Fragmented: A Doctor’s Quest to Piece Together American Health Care.” According to Yurkiewicz, when the records fail, it’s often on the patients themselves to fill in the gaps.

“I write about medical errors and near-misses that can happen to patients, and particularly the patients who are less equipped to keep their storylines straight,” she said in an interview with “Marketplace” host Kimberly Adams. “They — in my view — undeniably receive worse care when the burden is placed on patients and loved ones to stitch the pieces of their medical story together.”

While Yurkiewicz is ultimately hopeful that the system can be improved, she also provides advice on what information patients should have accessible to communicate their medical history effectively, should the need arise. The following is a checklist of that information, excerpted from the book.

The Full Story: A Patient’s Checklist

In our fragmented medical system, you are the only guaranteed source of continuity in your own care. Here is some of the information it’s helpful to have on hand.

Personal Info

Name:
Date of birth:
Phone number:
Address:
Emergency contact:
Height, weight:
Blood type:

Care Team

My primary doctor:
My specialist doctors:
My other providers (e.g., mental health therapist or nutritionist):
My health insurance carrier:

Chief Complaint

I am here today because (e.g., “My chest hurts”):
This has been going on for (e.g., “a few
months”):
The problem feels better when (e.g., “I take two extra-strength Tylenols”):
The problem gets worse when (e.g., “I lie flat at night”):

Medical History

Medical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cancer, heart disease, arthritis):
Surgeries (when, where):
Hospitalizations (when, where, and reason):
Past treatments (e.g., chemotherapy, radiation therapy):

Medications

Prescription medications (name, dosage, and how often I take):
Over-the-counter medications:
Other supplements, such as vitamins or herbs:
Pharmacy where I pick up medications:

Allergies

Allergies to medications:
Allergies to anything else a doctor may give (e.g., IV contrast):
What happens during an allergic reaction (e.g., “I get itchy”):

Immunizations

Vaccines in the last ten years:

Tests

Blood tests done recently:
Imaging (e.g., X-rays, ultrasound):
Pathology results (e.g., Pap smear, biopsy):
Procedures (e.g., stress test, colonoscopy):

Health Habits

Alcohol (how many drinks per week):
Tobacco (how many packs a day and for how many years total):
Drugs (what kind and how they are taken):
My exercise routine:
My diet:
My sleep:
My mental health:

Family History

Medical conditions in first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, and children):

My Wishes

Do I have an advance directive indicating my wishes in the case of a medical emergency?
What does it say?
Durable power of attorney (this names the one person I’d like to make medical decisions on my behalf if I cannot)

Reprinted from “Fragmented: A Doctor’s Quest to Piece Together American Health Care.” Copyright (c) 2023 by Ilana Yurkiewicz, MD. Used with permission of the publisher, W. W. Norton & Co., Inc. All rights reserved.”

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