My Health Information

• 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.

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?

• 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.

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 physican 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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’.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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’.

• 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.
• Log your health goals and wins (like better sleep, eating well, less stress, more activity).
• Consider recording your emotional health – positive and negative days or triggers.
• 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.

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.

• 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.