Where are your medical records?

Probably with your doctor, as they should be. Your doctor needs these records to track your care and provide the best treatment.

But it's also a good idea to have your own copy of your health records.

Your medical records are called your personal health record, or PHR. And when viewed over the Internet, health records are called an electronic health record (EHR) or electronic medical record (EMR).

You'll need your health records if you change doctors, move, get sick when you're away from home, or end up in an emergency room. If any of these things happen and you have your records, you may get treatment more quickly and it will be safer.

Keep a summary of your PHR in a safe place. And be sure that someone you trust also knows where you keep it.

What to keep with you

Keep personal information and current and past health information.

Personal information includes:

• Identification, such as a driver's license.
• Who to call in an emergency.
• The name and phone number of your primary doctor.
• Your insurance card.
• Your organ donor card, if you have one.

Current health information includes:

• Information that is needed in an emergency, such as whether you have a pacemaker or a stent, or have hearing or vision problems.
• A list of your long-term (chronic) health problems, such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, or high blood pressure.
• A list of the medicines(What is a PDF document?) you are taking. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines, dietary and herbal supplements, and vitamins and minerals. For each medicine, give the name of the doctor who prescribed it, why you are taking it, how much you take, and any special instructions.
• A list of your allergies, including drug or food allergies.

Your medical history also is important. Keep track of:

• Major health problems you've had in the past, such as pneumonia or broken bones, or problems with alcohol or drugs.
• Major health problems in your family, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, or diabetes.
• A history of childbirth, if you're a woman. This includes how many children you've had and any miscarriages, cesarean sections, or abortions you've had.

You can write a short summary of this information and keep a copy in your files and in your wallet or purse. You also can keep this information on a portable storage device for computers.

To keep track of your family health history, use this form(What is a PDF document?) or go to the Surgeon General's family health portrait website at www.hhs.gov/familyhistory.

What to keep at home

Having medical records for each member of your family can help you make better health decisions. Records to keep include:

• All the information noted above.
• An immunization record with dates of childhood and adulthood immunizations.
• Any health screening results, such as those for blood pressure, cholesterol, vision, and hearing.
• Any cancer screenings, such as Pap tests, mammograms, colonoscopy, and PSA (prostate-specific antigen) tests.
• Records of any major surgeries or times you were in the hospital.
• Records of your hearing and vision checkups.
• A list of medicines you've used in the past.