Here are a few suggestions for organizing at-home healthcare files.
Legal folders: (see photo below)
Are special files that have the holes at the top. There is a special hole punch, open the metal arms, then feed the document, and close. There are several variations. Some have two sections-front cover and back cover, both are expandable.
Advantage: Great for large files, like an entire medical record from a hospitalization. Great as an ongoing record keeper. Easy to read large volumes of material in order.
Disadvantage: It is not the easiest folder to use if you need to go back and retrieve documents over and over again because the binding mechanism is clunky. For example, if you need a piece of paper in the middle, you have to open the mechanism then remove all papers up to that point, the refeed it all back-really not fun.
- Could just keep all medical records in legal folder type and separate each event by using a divider.
- Could use one legal folder for each hospitalization, then one as an ongoing record keeper for everything else-office visits, procedures, test results etc.
- Highly recommend keeping all bills in an expandable folder (one for each event) that has easier access, once paid, could place into legal folder. Will most likely need dividers and dividers with pockets.
- Some people use portable file boxes to keep their medical bills separated. It’s really whatever works for you.
- Insurance: could keep a copy of a policy in a legal folder, then add bills or reconciliations in it as well.
Keeping An Ongoing List of Events
Keep a notebook or expandable folder with writeable paper-do an entry for each event. Doesn’t have to be a book but make notations.
- Title:
- Date:
- Reason for event
- Calendar handy
- Section for telephone conversations: Telephone conversations are important to track. Name, date, subject, and any reminders for follow up calls. Good idea to note the telephone number, any department extension, name of person who spoke with and notes regarding leaving a message.
- For hospitalizations: note date of admission and date of discharge. Make notes regarding particulars other than what you already note as title, date, reason for event.
Challenge
Anyone that has been in a hospital knows about the mountain of mail they will receive. Keeping this organized is no easy task. An expandable file system with calendar, note taking capability will take you a long way. Keeping track of bills is no easy feat, given that many bills are duplicates, some reflect balances already paid, the list goes on.
Other tools:
May want to consider highlighters, pencils with erasers, staplers, special hole punches for legal folders, markers, and some type of labeling for tabs of dividers. Set aside time and space and keep up with the recording keeping. Even if a bill was paid by an insurance company, keep a copy.
