How to organize your medical information

Some estimates show that people have an average of four doctors and specialists on their annual care team. And for many of us who manage care for family members too, that number quickly grows! The sheer volume of information can be overwhelming, which leads many to look for a medical information organizer. After all, we use mobile apps to organize everything from our schedules to grocery lists to even our closets—so why can’t we use an app to organize medical information, too?‍

Why to get a medical information organizer

Most people feel nervous during medical appointments and wish it were easier to keep track of next steps. What’s more, 44% of people say they struggle to remember all the information their doctor tells them. That’s why it’s important to have a central place to store and record all of your healthcare details: what we call a medical information organizer.

The pandemic has not only underscored the importance of organizing your medical information, but also hastened the transition to digital record-keeping. Coronavirus precautions like social distancing have dramatically accelerated the digital revolution in healthcare—from telehealth appointments to online pharmacies—and changed people’s expectations for how they store and access their medical information. According to PEW, most Americans want to use apps on smartphones, tablets, or computers to access their health information. ‍

What to look for in a medical information organizer

The traditional medical information organizer—picture a three-ringed binder with loose-leaf paper notes and printed copies of records—has not been updated in decades. However, these days, staying paper-bound could put you at a disadvantage when it comes to your medical care. It’s not enough just to have information on hand; increasingly, it’s important to take advantage of technologies that help you organize and make sense of the information.

When considering what to use for a medical information organizer, here are some questions you might ask yourself: :

• Does it make it easy for you to review your records at a glance?
• Can your doctor review your records, too?
• Is it a system that helps you follow through on your next steps?
• Most importantly, does it help you stay on top of your health?
  

Abridge is bringing medical information organizers into the digital age with the app that lets you record your doctor’s visit and review transcriptions of the appointment. By leveraging machine learning innovations, our app can filter through patient-doctor conversations to identify the most relevant information for you to review.‍

Benefits of a mobile app as a medical information organizer

The benefits of using a mobile app as your medical information organizer, in lieu of a binder and paper records, are clear:

• It’s less labor-intensive: You no longer have to write out doctor’s instructions or print out medication lists because the Abridge app will do that for you, taking one more burden off your shoulders.
• Keeps everyone on the same (digital) page: It’s much easier to keep people in the loop—from family and friends to doctors—about your healthcare plan, including new medications, instructions, or appointments, when you use an app to organize and share medical information digitally.
• It won’t get lost in the shuffle: Life is messy, so a medical information organizer binder can be easily misplaced. In contrast, your phone (and the app) never leaves your pocket or purse.
• Tracking medications: Abridge makes it easier to stay on top of your medications. The app helps you keep track and manage changes to your medication list, including details on how the medication should be used and any potential side effects to be aware of.
• Scheduling doctor’s visit reminders: You can automatically schedule the date and time of all upcoming appointments and receive notifications in advance of the visit. Our schedules are busy, so your medical information organizer app can help you keep track of follow up appointments.

At Abridge, our goal is to make it easier to understand and follow through on your health, and providing the space to organize and review your medical information is a large part of that mission. We believe that empowering people to stay on top of their health is the first step in improving overall health outcomes.

While we’re a fan of using an app to organize and record medical information, ultimately, it’s important to remember that there’s no perfect strategy and to pick one that works best for you. We’re interested in hearing how you keep track of your medical information. Have any tips? Email us at hello@abridge.com with your advice for medical information organizers.