Learning About My Health & Diagnosis
Learning About Changes in My Health
Learning about Your Diagnosis and Health Condition(s)
- Learn the name of your health condition(s), its causes, possible complications, and how it might show up in your daily life.
- Know how to describe your health condition(s) to others.
- Know what symptoms to watch for and when and where to get help.
- Record all your diagnoses details in your Mywell Health – Health Profile.
- Keep a list on the Notes app on your phone under “My Health”.
- Write down any new symptoms in your Calendar app.
Asking Questions about Your Health Condition & Treatment Options
- Choose qualified and trusted health care professionals—such as your physician, nurse practitioner, and specialists—to learn more about your condition.
- Ask your physician or specialist for websites, handouts, or videos you should use to learn about your health condition.
- Ask about the possible progression of your condition and/or prognosis, keeping in mind that your response to your illness may be different from others.
- Explore your treatment options (such as medications, therapies, surgeries, or other remedies).
- Ask about the risks, benefits, and long-term effects of each treatment you are exploring.
- Record your questions and the answers in your Notes app or Health Profile. Make sure the people you are asking are trusted and qualified.
Suggested Questions
What is my condition called?
How does it make my mind or body work differently from others?
What are the signs and symptoms of my condition?
What symptoms might mean that I am getting sick or need help?
What are the treatments and medications I need? How do they each work?
What are the screening tests I need to monitor my condition? How often?
Do I need a special diet? Are there limits on my activities?
What else should I know about my condition?
Checking the Accuracy of Your Health Information
- Ask your physician and other health care professionals for clarification of information you have collected. Get a second opinion if needed.
- Use trusted sources like government health or well-known medical organizations’ sites. Check if the information is from reliable, peer-reviewed medical journals.
- Try to avoid sources that promote products or services without evidence or valid clinical studies.
- Ask about your physician’s copy of your electronic health record (EMR) -make sure the information in your EMR matches your personal health profile.
“Maybe you are noticing changes in your health, and/or people who care about you are noticing changes too. It can be hard to deal with health changes, a new diagnosis, or new symptoms from a chronic condition. Take time to process what’s happening. Talk with people you trust and seek counselling if that feels helpful. Look for accurate, up-to-date health information, double-check what you learn, and ask health care professionals to explain and confirm your understanding.”
Tip
Check out the Mywell Health Resource Kit for any terms you do not understand. Use the Senior Toolbox to link directly to helpful tools and government websites.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Start a Health Diary in your Notes App and list your
- Health Conditions.
- Medications (dosage & times taken).
- Symptoms to watch for.
Photo app – to take pictures of your medications including vitamins, supplements and all over the counter drugs.
“As a physician in both emergency and private practice, I see firsthand the stress BC’s health care system faces due to a shortage of family physicians. I support Mywell Health because it educates the public on how to take charge of their health, especially if waiting for a physician or nurse practitioner assignment. It is beneficial for everyone to keep an up-to-date personal health profile and share it with health care professionals or people involved in their care. It is usually only the patient or a very involved health advocate who has the complete picture of a person’s health. If patients come in to receive care and can answer questions about their health, it can help with the accuracy and effectiveness of their treatments.”
Completing My Personal Health Profile
Collecting Your Health Information
Know that you are most likely the only person who knows your complete health journey.
- Ask your physician and other health care professionals for clarification of information you have collected. Get a second opinion if needed.
- Look up trustworthy info about your condition on research-based sites such as Healthlink BC.
- Learn how to collect your personal health information from Health-Gateway BC , a digital program funded by the Government of BC.
- Sign up for My Care-Compass to see your lab results.
- Ask your pharmacist for a print-out of your past & present medications or print off your medication history from Health Gateway BC.
- Get a copy of the test or imaging results (such as Xray, Ultrasound, CT Scan, or MRI). Record your physician’s or specialist’s explanation of the results.
- Keep and review the pharmacy handouts you are given.
- Scan any documents you do collect into your digital Mywell Health files and/or print them for your Mywell Health binder.
Building Your Own Health Profile
Mywell Health has created a fillable PDF for you to complete your own Health Profile. Everyone should have their own that is up-to-date and accessible in print or digitally.
Step 1: Watch the video “How to Complete A Health Profile.
Step 2: Download the Health Profile fillable PDF tool and save it to your personal files.
Step 3: Open the Health Profile document and insert your name and date.
Step 4: Fill in the fields as you are able based on the information you have gathered. Collect information from your physician and health care professionals. As well as online government sites.
Step 5: Save and update this document as you learn and record new information. Be sure to change the date each time you make updates.
Step 6: Save your updated Health Profile file to the cloud-based storage you use. Learn how to access it from your phone so you can view the information anytime, 24/7.
Understanding the Benefits of a Health Profile
A personal health profile is a detailed and up to date record of your health information. Learn how it can help you get safer and faster care, especially in case of emergencies.
Supports Your Self-Advocacy & Voice in Your Health
- Can help you understand your health information better.
- Gives you confidence to ask questions and speak up.
- Puts you more in control of your health decisions.
- Helps physicians understand your health quickly when you are traveling or in a new place.
Better Communication
- Physician offices, clinics, urgent care, and emergency rooms do not always share records.
- Your health profile can help health care professionals know your health history right away.
- When you are in pain, stressed, or confused, written information helps avoid delays.
- Can be very helpful for people with communication or language barriers, anxiety, or pain.
- Should include your emergency contacts, care wishes, advance directives, and organ donation information.
Medication Safety
- Keep a clear, updated list of all medicines you take, including prescriptions, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, vitamins, and herbs.
- Can help prevent prescribing or mixing medicines that should not go together.
Faster Help in Emergencies
- Emergency staff can quickly see your allergies, medical conditions, and medications.
- Lists important health history items like past illnesses, surgeries, and drug reactions.
- Can help prevent repeat tests or treatments that are not right for you.
Better Team Care
- Helps family members or caregivers share the right information to care professionals.
- Allows physicians, nurses, specialists, and pharmacists to work from the same information.
- Helps track your health conditions, treatments, and changes over time.
Using Your Health Profile
- Update your health profile with any new information or changes.
- Save your completed changes in your health profile to your cloud storage.
- Ensure you have your cloud storage app on your phone.
- Practice accessing your health profile on your phone.
- Share your health profile with your physician, specialist, nurse practitioner and health care professionals supporting your care.
“It is important to gather all your health information in one place. In most cases, you are the only person who knows your complete health journey. Your health journey includes your current diagnosis, symptoms, side effects, treatments, hospitalizations, surgeries, allergies and sensitivities, sexual health, emotional health, family health history and more. As you gather your information, record it in your Health Profile and save it to your Mywell Health print and/or digital files.”
Tip
Be patient with yourself and those who might be helping you. Creating a complete and accurate Health Profile takes time. Do it in steps. Fill in what you know, talk to your physician, search online sites as you are able.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Save your updated Health Profile to your cloud-based storage.
Save it to your phone so you have access 24/7.
Notes app to list your health conditions & record your medications.
Alarm/ Alerts app to remind you to take your medications.
Calendar app to list new symptoms.
“My dining room table had become cluttered with business cards, handouts, lab tests, reports, and prescriptions, both current and outdated. Feeling overwhelmed by the chaos, I turned to Mywell Health for assistance in organizing all this information. Using the free health profile, I organized all my health information that I had. I asked for help from others. I put all the printed materials in my Mywell Health binder (I keep it in my kitchen). I saved my computer health files using the Mywell topic headings in Dropbox and shared the files with my son. Best of all, I can access my health information whenever I need it from my computer and my phone.”
Self-Advocacy, Decision-Making & Consent
Using Self-Advocacy & Decision-Making Skills
Understanding your health condition helps you advocate for yourself and take an active role in your care. It is important that you see yourself as a partner in your health care and the health care system.
- Learn about self-advocacy in the resource kit.
- Learn about your patient rights as well as your responsibilities.
- Ask questions to clarify what you do not understand, including treatment options and long-term concerns.
- Discuss strategies with your health professionals on ways to manage and reduce your symptoms and side effects from medications and treatments.
- Write down your questions and practice asking them.
- Know that your voice can be heard – even if someone else is asking the questions for you.
- Express your decisions for medications, surgery, treatment options, therapies, organ donation, blood transfusions – even if it is with the help of someone else.
Knowing about Your Rights & Responsibilities as a Patient
- Be assured that this is your personal health journey, and you have the legal right to ask questions.
- Learn about the laws around patient rights and privacy and confidentiality in BC.
- Share with others how you want to be involved in your health care and decision making.
- Know that you have the right to access insured health care services, without discrimination.
- Understand that informed consent means that you can accept, refuse, or discontinue treatments at any time.
- Make informed health care decisions, with the support of others, if needed.
- Choose a health advocate – someone you trust who can support you in gathering health information and learning about your choices.
- Learn about what it means to be ‘partners in care’.
“As an adult, I have always been very independent in my thinking and decision-making. Now, as a senior, I am facing a number of physical health challenges, including some memory loss and difficulty hearing. I strongly believe in being my own advocate in life and in my health care decisions. Perhaps even more than in the past, I see that everyone needs to be their own self-advocate. Gone are the days when you saw your family doctor regularly—someone who had known you for years. I feel for new physicians today. How can you truly get to know someone in a 15-minute appointment?
My physician’s office is now a clinic where I may see one of four different physicians at any given visit. I know I need to be organized with my questions and clear about what I hope to accomplish during the appointment. However, lately I have become much more aware of the importance of reaching out to people I trust to support me at my appointments. I am usually accompanied by my daughter, who understands my wishes and helps ensure that my voice is heard. It is not easy to acknowledge that I need help—but by choosing who speaks on my behalf, I feel that I am still in the driver’s seat.”
Tip
Learn about partners in care and how being an active participant in your care can improve your health care experience.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Notes app to list your questions and professional’s responses.
Contacts app to list for all your physicians, health care professionals, care partners, and emergency contacts.
My Emergency Health Plan
Planning Ahead for Getting Help or Emergency Care
Having an emergency health plan can assist you in knowing what to do if your health condition worsens or something unexpected happens. It also helps others understand your health condition(s), what actions to take, what medications may be needed, and how to help you quickly. Here is the information you need to prepare and discuss ahead of time.
- List your health condition(s) and emotional health and mental illness concerns.
- Keep your personal Health Profile up to date and accessible on your phone.
- Share your Health Profile with your emergency contacts ahead of time, in case of an emergency.
- Create a paper copy of your Mywell Health Planner in a binder. Keep it in your kitchen next to your fridge for First Responders.
- Write a list of warning signs that might indicate that your condition is getting worse. Share this list with others close to you.
- Know what to do if your symptoms suddenly change or become serious.
- Carry emergency medicines if needed (such as an inhaler, epinephrine, or insulin).
- Keep extra medication (with dosages information) and supplies in case of travel, delays, or emergencies.
- Know the names of your medical devices and what they do. Be able to describe how they work to others and First Responders.
- Keep backup supplies, batteries, or charging equipment available for medical devices or pumps if required.
Knowing Who to Call and When
- Learn how the health care system works in your community.
- Ask your physician or specialist what to do if your symptoms worsen or what would be considered an emergency for you.
- Understand which symptoms mean you should rest at home, call your physician. nurse practitioner or specialist, visit urgent care, or go to the hospital.
- Keep your Health Care & Professionals contact list up-to-date. Have in the list –which professional to contact for what – what type of health concerns.
- Know how to call 811 for general health advice.
- Know how to call 911 or access emergency services in life-threatening situations.
Naming Your Emergency Contacts
- Choose emergency contacts you trust, spend time with, and who live close to you.
- Write down their full name, phone number, and relationship to you.
- Know that often your emergency contacts can include your partner of who you live with, family members, or close friends – who may also act as your health advocate(s).
- Ask a colleague at work to be an emergency contact and share with your employer what to do for you in case you become unwell.
- Share your health condition, medications, and allergies and written emergency health plan with your emergency contacts.
- Consider sharing access to your personal Health Profile with them.
- Tell your emergency contacts if you are an organ donor or wear medical alert.
Recording Your Personal Emergency Health Plan
Remember, in case of significant changes in your condition or an emergency, you might not be able to communicate clearly. Preparing a personal emergency health plan can help First Responders, those around you, and health care professionals have the important information they need to help you quickly and safely.
Consider recording your plan in your Notes app under ‘My Emergency Health Plan’ and keeping an printed copy in your Mywell Health planner/binder next to your fridge. First Responders look first to your refrigerator for emergency information needed.
Suggested contents for your Emergency Health Plan
- Health Conditions – list of your physical and emotional health condition(s). Include the name of each condition and how it affects you.
- Medications – including all over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, herbs, supplements and vitamins. For all include name, dosage, and how often you take it.
- Allergies – to medications, food or other substances – like latex, and your allergic response.
- Internal or external medical devices (such as pumps, pacemakers, tubes, ostomies, monitors, or others). Include a description of how each device functions or a link to the relevant website for more information.
- Emergency contacts list with name, phone and relationship to you.
- Health care professionals list – especially your physician, nurse practitioner, specialists, surgeons, and pharmacy.
- Personal/ provincial health number and any relevant insurance information.
- Limitations – list any concerns for mobility, hearing, sight, communication, or other.
- Decision documents – outlining Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) / No CPR Order, Advance Care Plan, or Advance Directive. Including where documents can be found.
- Organ donation status – are you registered as an organ donor
“Having an emergency health plan helps you know what to do if your health condition worsens or something unexpected happens. It also involves understanding the difference between a true emergency that requires calling 911 and a situation where you may need assistance from others—such as contacting your physician or asking a family member or neighbor for help.
For example, my neighbor frequently fell because he would miss his chair when trying to sit down. He had visited the emergency department several times and had been diagnosed with vertigo. His wife, who was much smaller than him, was unable to help him get up from the floor and back into his chair. As a result, they called 911 each time he missed his chair and slid to the floor. Their son eventually asked if I could help. He suggested that if it happened again and his dad was not injured, I could assist him back into his chair and help ensure he was using his walker properly when sitting down and standing up. I was happy to help when needed, and through this experience, we became good friends.”
Tip
Consider sharing your emergency plan, health condition(s), medications, and allergies with your spouse, family members, care partners and caregivers – so they can help you when you need it.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Contacts app to list your physician(s), health care and other professionals, care partners, and emergency contacts (you can setup emergency contacts in your contacts app so they’re easy to find in case of an emergency).
Photo of your personal/provincial health number (PHN) and medication list on your phone.
Notes app to keep track of your medications, including time to take them and dosage.
Cloud storage app (of your choice) to allow access to your Health Profile, Medication List, or Health Care & Professionals list.
Tips for Health Care Visits
Preparing for Your Health Care Visits
- Know that most visits are scheduled for 10 minutes to address 1-2 questions. (You may be able to book a longer appointment if you have complex health issues).
- Learn the roles of different professionals (such as a physician, nurse practitioner, or specialist) and what care and advice they can and cannot provide.
- Make sure your updated Health Profile and Medication List are accessible from your phone.
- Use your phone’s Notes app to list your symptoms, concerns, and questions.
- Review your medications, recent test results, and any referrals.
- Bring your personal/provincial health number (PHN) that is on your BC Services Card or Driver’s License.
- Plan and write down the (2) questions you want answered in your Notes app or on paper.
- Bring a person you trust to be your health advocate to remind you of your questions and offer support, if needed.
Participating in Your Health Care Visit
- Sit close to your physician, make eye contact, and let them know you have questions.
- Ask if you can record the visit or specific information being given on your phone.
- Request clear explanations of medical terms, tests, results, medications, and treatments.
- Take notes into your Notes app on your phone or ask if you can record the visit.
- Be confident in sharing with professionals how you want to be treated, such as how you want to be spoken to and the time you need to make informed decisions.
- Ask for written explanations to your questions. Ask for a print copy of the information discussed or have them email you a copy.
- Ensure all your questions are answered before you leave.
Getting a Referral to a Specialist
- Ask your physician or nurse practitioner why you are getting a referral to a specialist?
- Talk about their location, the hospital they admit to, and length of wait times.
- Know how to follow-up on a referral.
- Ask for available dates and request to be added to the cancellation list to get the earliest appointment available.
Knowing What to Bring to a Health Care Visit
- Personal/ provincial health number on your Driver’s license or BC Services card.
- Updated health profile.
- Updated medication list (including OTC, herbs, supplements, and vitamins).
- List of questions and goals for the visit.
- Your health advocate to take notes, record instructions, and offer support.
Asking for Assistance at Visits
- Ask a family member, friend, neighbour who you trust to help you, if needed, with health care visits.
- Know that it is allowed and encouraged today to have someone support you to health care visits.
- Learn about health advocates in the resource kit.
- Have them read the suggestions above and talk about ways they can help.
- Be sure to talk about your need for privacy and confidentiality.
- Discuss what they can share with your children or family members if you choose.
“Times have changed from when you had a physician who you knew since childhood. Doctor visits were just that – a catch up – time was not an issue. But today, things are different in many ways. When you go to a health care visit, you have to make the most of it by being prepared and knowing what you want to talk about. Remember, in our current health care system – you only have 15 minutes booked to see your physician or specialist. They are going to focus on 1-2 issues only. If you have a nurse practitioner – you might have more time. It is helpful to write your questions on paper or in your phone ahead of time. It is important to speak up about what you need or don’t understand. Before you leave, make sure you have a plan that makes sense to you.”
Tip
Learn how to follow-up on a referral.
1) Confirm that the referral was sent.
2) Call the referred office to ensure they received it.
3)Ask for available dates and request to be added to the cancellation list.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad
Notes app for your list of questions and a place to record the answers.
Calendar app to schedule appointments and tests.
Cloud storage app access to your Health Profile.
Voice memos app to record your visit and any teaching, with permission.
Search and save/bookmark websites or information suggested.
Photos app to take pictures of handouts or websites suggested by your physician.
“As an adult with a chronic health condition for the past 47 years, I struggle to keep up with the constant changes in the health care system. Managing physician and specialist visits, referrals, tests, and understanding results feels like a full-time job. Even with my health care background, it’s still tough to ask for help, deal with long wait times, and get the information I need to make informed decisions. That’s why I got involved with Mywell Health. It provides a platform to learn about your health conditions, the health care system, and personal rights through trusted, evidence-based resources. As a health educator and coach, I see the value in building self-advocacy skills to strengthen my voice in what I want and how to get the care I need.”
Using Free Phone or iPad Apps to Track My Health
Using Your Phone app
- Use your Notes app to track your symptoms—what it feels like, when it starts, what you were doing when it started, and any patterns.
- Watch for big changes in your energy, weight, sleep, stress, or diet.
- Make a medication list of what meds you take, when you take them, and their dosages—use it to jot down reactions to new medications (this includes all over the Counter (OTC) drugs, herbs, supplements, and vitamins).
- Use it before and during health care appointments—write down your question what your physician or health care provider says!
- Reflections—track stressors, triggers, and mental health wins – sort of like a personal health and wellness journal.
- Bonus! The date and time are automatically stamped on your notes.
Using Your Contacts app
- Create a new list for health care and other professionals.
- Record their name, phone, email, services they provide you and how best to contact them.
- If a health care professional, consider including the date of your last visit and for why you were seen.
- List your emergency contacts and all people you consider your care partners.
- Learn more about who should be in your contacts list for your health and lifestyle planning in ‘My People’.
Keeping a Health Calendar
- Use what works for you—phone apps like Google or iCloud Calendar, or a paper calendar that you can keep in a visible spot.
- Track appointments with date, time, and location – note if it’s in-person, phone, or video.
- Medication schedule (especially if there are any changes).
- Track any new symptoms or health changes—don’t forget to follow up and record if you are feeling better after treatments.
- List vaccinations, bloodwork, tests, checkups, and screening tests.
- Be sure to log in your wellness plans – like your physical activity schedule.
- Log your health goals and wins (like better sleep, eating well, less stress, more activity).
- Share your calendar with a care partner or health advocate if helpful.
- Use it alongside your Health Profile to see what’s working and what’s not.
- Think about colour coding your health calendar for different ‘categories’ to make it easier to spot what you’re looking for.
Using Reminders, Audio, Alarm & Photo apps
Check out different ways you can use the apps on your phone or iPad to help track your health.
Photo app
Take pictures of
- Personal/ Provincial Health Number (PIN)
- Medication list
- Physical symptoms like rashes, bruises, etc. over time.
- Paper requisitions for labs or other tests.
Reminder/Alarm app
- Set repeating reminders for routines like taking your meds every day and at what time, to drink water or take a break for a meal, if sitting/studying when move your body, or anything else that you think would be good for you!
- Reminders to book follow up appointments, get bloodwork, and to refill medications.
Voice Memos
- Ask for permission to record your health appointments and any health teaching.
Record any changes in your symptoms or health. Include changes that are improving your health.
Cloud Access to your Health Profile
- Download the Mywell Health – Health Profile and follow the steps to complete it.
- Update your health profile with any new information or changes as they occur.
- Save your completed changes in your Health Profile to your cloud storage (like iCloud or Dropbox).
- Ensure you have the storage app for your prefered cloud storage on your phone (if you have an iPhone, you probably already have the “Files” app downloaded).
- Practice accessing your health profile on your phone.
- Share your health profile with your trusted family members, physician, specialist, nurse practitioner and health care professionals in case of an emergency or in supporting your care.
“Consider using the free apps on your phone or iPad as your organizational tools for tracking your symptoms, side effects , as well as your positive health changes and goals. The free apps include calendars, notes, contacts, audios for recording, alerts/ alarms, photos, and more. Be aware though that your phone or iPad data is not always secure. Think about backing it up on your home computer. Learn about ways to use these apps to support your health and wellness management. Many have shared that a benefit to using digital tools is that it is quick and easy to share information, appointments, contact information and more – with those that might be supporting you.”
Tip
Use your phone and or iPad and all its free apps to help manage your health and wellness. Learn how to use your calendar, notes, audio, alerts, and photos apps to record and share your health information. Remember, a backup is a good idea – on paper or your home computer.
Senior Toolbox
Using Your Phone or iPad for Health Planning
- To manage your health
- Prepare for health care visits.
- Talk to others about your health and share important emergency information.
- Always have your health information easily accessible.
- And more…
“Mywell is an excellent resource, thorough, comprehensive and easy to read. Lots of guidance and suggestions too. I must say though that at first I found it overwhelming as there are so many topics and possible choices but such a comprehensive website. Hopefully, seniors who are not familiar with computers and the internet, have someone that can help them access all the useful information. You have covered a lot of topics I, and many others, would not have thought to explore – yet there they are. What a gift. You all have produced a remarkable and extremely useful resource for anyone wishing to get informed and act.”
