Your Child's Medical Journal: Keeping Track of Your Child's Personal Health History from Conception Through Adulthood - Softcover

Larsen, Sharon

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0609802445 ISBN 13: 9780609802441

Publisher: Three Rivers Press, 1999

Synopsis

Instant access to  potentially  life--saving medical information!

It's often difficult to remember all the details of your child's medical care, particularly if you have more than one child or when there are multiple medical conditions to deal with. By using this workbook to keep track of your child's medical history, you will always be in a powerful position to work with physicians to achieve the best and most appropriate health care for your child--especially in emergency situations.

Far more comprehensive than the typical "baby record" books, Your Child's Medical Journal spans the entire period from conception to adulthood, and it provides ample space for easily recording the following:
Family medical history
Pregnancy record and calendar
Delivery and postnatal record
Routine doctor visits for preventative health care
Short-term illness record
Complete medications record
Complete immunization record        
Growth record and charts        
Allergy record
Vision and hearing records
Injury, radiological, hospitalization, and surgical records
Dental and orthodontic records
Keep all your child's medical records at your fingertips with this easy-to-use journal.

About this title

About the Author

Sharon Larsen is a freelance journalist. Her personal experience with the medical care of her twin sons inspired her to create this workbook.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

How to Make Best Use of this Journal

I can't express enough how important it is to keep accurate and comprehensive records of each of your children's health histories. Of course, it would be best to begin this journal as soon as you know you are pregnant. However; it is never too late to begin keeping records for your child. Simply record any previous medical history in each section as completely and accurately as possible. Getting copies of your child's medical records from your health care provider may help out tremendously. Contact each clinic at which your child has been given medical care, and request a copy of your child's medical records. You may be asked to put your request in writing, along with your signature. Most doctors' offices will pro-vide you with copies of your child's health records. And in most states they are legally obligated to provide them if requested.

The book begins with a complete family med-ical history and two sections detailing the preg-nancy and birth of the child. This includes a section describing all of the tests that are routinely performed on newborns. After the birth of my twins I would have appreciated knowing the purpose of all of the poking and prodding the medical professionals were doing. I hope you'll find comfort knowing what the doctor and nurses are doing to your newborn, and why they're doing it.

This is followed by a section that you will find helpful and informative during well-baby checkups or routine exams. As a new parent I didn't know what to expect at each of these visits and found it very frustrating. For each of the recommended checkups I've included tests, screenings, and so on that should be performed. If they are not--ask why! The remainder of the journal contains sec-tions and information that will make tracking each individual aspect of your child's health a relatively simple task. The important aspect is that you keep up with it!

Each person's medical history is very unique. Thus, there may be sections that you will use quite often and some rarely. You may tailor this book to suit your child's specific needs by copying pages directly from this book. I suggest you keep these "extra" pages, and perhaps any doctor or hospital records you collect, in a three-rtng note-book for ease of access and organization.

After your child is born, or after you've brought the journal as up-to-date as possible, I urge you to bring the journal or some notepaper to each doctor visit and take notes! You'll be sur-prised how much you forget on the drive home from the doctor's office!

When your child is at an age when you feel he or she can take on the responsibility of keeping accurate records, it's time to pass this journal on. For some, that may be at age 18; for others, after college may be more appropriate. It is important to note that these medical records are meant to facilitate your child and your child's health care providers for a lifetime. This journal could well be the greatest gift you'll ever give to your child--the gift of a healthy future.

Edition details

• Publisher: Three Rivers Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0609802445
• ISBN 13: 9780609802441
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 176