Seeing multiple doctors is the new normal. Take control of your healthcare with tools like Selfii to simplify your care and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.
In today’s healthcare system, it’s rare to have just one doctor who handles all of your care. Now, you’re likely seeing a range of specialists—whether it’s a cardiologist, an orthopedist, or someone managing diabetes care—alongside your primary doctor, not to mention visits to urgent care or telehealth appointments. Each of these doctors is important, but they don’t always communicate with one another, which means it’s often up to you to make sure all your information gets shared. As pointed out in the JAMA Network paper, Care Fragmentation, Care Continuity, and Care Coordination—How They Differ and Why It Matters, “Having multiple physicians may be appropriate, but it may also lead to medical errors, unnecessary visits, avoidable hospitalizations, and suboptimal care if all of the physicians do not have complete information about the patient and each other’s care plans.”
Managing all your own health records might sound like extra work, but it’s also a way to ensure that every doctor you see has the information they need to give you the best care. By gathering your health data in one place, you’ll save yourself time, money, and potential frustrations. Plus, it’s never been easier to do, thanks to tools like patient portals, healthcare services like Selfii, and simple record requests. Here’s how you can take control of your health data in a world of many doctors.
Why It’s Important to Manage Your Own Health Records
As many experts point out, seeing multiple doctors for different needs can lead to gaps in your care. One doctor might not know about the medication another doctor prescribed, or they may order tests that you’ve already had. By organizing and managing your health data, you make it easy to share your history wherever you go. This can help reduce unnecessary tests, prevent medication mix-ups, and give each doctor the full picture of your health. Here’s how to get started.
Ways to Take Control of Your Health Data
1. Use Patient Portals from Your Doctors’ Offices
- What They Do: Most doctors’ offices now offer patient portals, which let you log in to see your medical history, test results, and notes from past visits. Many portals also allow you to download copies of your records, so you can keep them all in one place.
- Why They Help: By checking your portal regularly, you can stay on top of your test results, spot any errors, and make sure you have the latest information to share with other doctors.
- What They Don’t Do: It can be difficult to remember all of the doctors you have seen let alone the logins and passwords for each portal. And even if you do get into the portal, it seems mostly aimed at making sure you pay your bills, not understanding your healthcare.
2. Try a Health Data App like Selfii
- What Selfii Does: Selfii helps you collect and organize all your health information in one place. Selfii is already connected to healthcare networks and providers so it can automatically gather and present your comprehensive healthcare records to you. And you can add to those records by uploading documents you have at home or just take a picture of your medications and send that to Selfii and it will read each of them, add them to your Selfii healthcare timeline and store them securely so they’re always easy to access. Selfii is designed to let you understand and use your records with any doctor, specialist or even AI-powered application you choose, so they get a clear view of your complete health history.
- Why It’s Useful: Using a service like Selfii can save you from tracking down paper records, and it lets you carry your health history with you, even if you’re traveling or seeing a new doctor. It’s also a good option if you want all your health data together in a way that’s easy to update and share as needed.
3. Request Records After Each Visit
- Why This Matters: Many people don’t realize that you can ask for a summary of your visit at the end of each appointment. Most doctors’ offices and clinics will provide one, including any test results, treatments, and medications prescribed.
- What to Do: After every visit, request a copy of your medical records. You can upload them to a digital app like Selfii or keep them in a physical file folder. Having a visit summary on hand makes it easy to keep your records current and ensures you have important information ready to share when you need it.
4. Organize Your Health Data in a Secure Place
- Options for Storing Your Records: Whether you prefer to keep digital copies on an app or physical records in a filing system, make sure your health data is stored in a secure, accessible place. If you use digital tools, ensure that they’re secure and encrypted.
- The Benefits of Organization: Organized records mean you won’t have to scramble to find that one test result or medication list when you need it most. You’ll be ready to provide your doctors with up-to-date information, which can improve your care and make each visit smoother.
How Managing Your Health Data Benefits Your Care
When you have your health information well-organized, it simplifies the process of seeing different doctors and it helps you advocate for your health. Experts agree in the article, Empowering Patients: A Guide to Enhancing Patient Self-Advocacy Skills, that “when patients are equipped with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, they can actively participate in decision-making processes, ask questions, and express their concerns.” Here’s how taking control of your health data can improve your care experience:
- Less Redundancy: Knowing what tests and treatments you’ve already had prevents unnecessary repeats, saving you time, discomfort, and sometimes even money.
- Better Communication: When you can quickly share your full history with any doctor, they can make informed decisions faster, which may lead to better care outcomes.
- Peace of Mind: Having everything in order gives you one less thing to worry about. You know that no matter where you go, you have your health history with you.
Simple Steps to Get Started with Managing Your Health Data
Getting organized doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s a quick recap on steps to start taking control of your healthcare information:
- Sign Up for Patient Portals: Log in, download your records, and check for updates after every visit.
- Use Selfii to Gather Comprehensive Records: Gather your records from different doctors in one secure, easy-to-access place.
- Request Copies After Every Visit: Make it a habit to request a visit summary and upload it to Selfii.
- Keep Everything Organized and Accessible: Store your records in a way that’s easy to access when needed, either physically or digitally.
Putting It All Together for Better Care
While the days of having a single, dedicated doctor are mostly behind us, there are simple ways to ensure your healthcare doesn’t feel scattered. By taking charge of your health data using Selfii and good record-keeping habits, you can give every doctor you see a complete picture of your health. This makes each visit more productive and ensures that you’re getting care that’s informed by your entire health history. Taking control of your records may seem like extra work, but the benefits—like fewer repeat tests, smoother appointments, and better peace of mind—are well worth it.