What is the Common Data Elements on Health Insurance Websites?
A personal health history form is an electronically stored health report that details a person’s medical history, from birth to present times. Such records are kept by the individual himself, or by a healthcare professional such as a doctor, nurse or clinic offering healthcare services. The intent behind the creation of this type of medical document is to help the doctor (or other healthcare professional) diagnose a problem, and provide treatment if necessary. A personal health history form serves many useful purposes in today’s modern healthcare environment.
Many people are born with no clear sense of what their health goals are. In order to achieve these goals, they may have to make life-changing decisions. Some of these decisions involve buying new items, taking a test, joining a new class or trying out a new hairstyle. Other decisions involve making decisions about education, friendships, career and even romantic relationships. The ability to make decisions without being emotionally reactive is what characterizes true leadership.
By taking an inventory of your personal health history you can determine what your health goals are, for yourself and for your loved ones. One way to do this is through the process of phoning or logging onto the Internet websites of your primary care physician. Many primary care physicians have online profiles where you can request a brief health history form. These forms outline your family’s medical history and any known allergies or disorders. You can also request information about your siblings and take a blood test to determine allergies.
Alternatively, some healthcare providers offer “virtual” health records. Online websites allow you to fill out one short application and send it to several different healthcare providers. Once you receive a response, you can download and print the form, which you then can hand-carry back to the doctor. If there are multiple doctors in your area who offer this service, you may be better served to ask each healthcare provider individually about their policies and procedures. In addition, many doctors will offer free consultations to obtain further information.
The American College of Rheumatology offers a database called My Healthline. This database contains detailed information available for patients with various chronic diseases. If you are interested in accessing this database, you will need to register as a member. This is not the same as being on the list of healthcare providers. Once registered, you will be able to search for and access patient information based on a diagnosis code.
The information available can help you determine if you need to work with a specific healthcare provider. Whether you work with a primary care physician or with a specialty provider, you may be able to find a comprehensive and partial list of covered services on the websites of the various providers. For example, if you are interested in seeking dental care, you can find the database of dentists. Likewise, if you have diabetes and are interested in finding ways to manage or reduce symptoms, you can research the website of medical providers who specialize in treating diabetic issues.