What's Missing from Your Fridge?
By Ailene Gerhardt, MA, BCPA, Founder, Beacon Patient Solutions LLC
It may seem like a strange question for an independent patient advocate to be asking, but I assure you it is an important one. In the past few weeks, we have learned to adapt to a new way of life.
One in which we make an itemized grocery list and hope that the online service from which we are ordering OR the store itself has the items we are most interested in on its shelves. Going to or ordering from a grocery store is now a planned event, one that takes preparation and careful thought.
So, while we are focused on what it is in our refrigerator, it is important to give thought to what may not be ON our refrigerator.
What may be missing from the front of your refrigerator?
A File of Life or A “Refrigerator Card.”
A File of Life or a “Refrigerator Card“ contains important personal information regarding your health and emergency contacts if you are unable to give the information. This document is useful for anyone over 18 to have completed. It is also important to discuss the details with your emergency contacts listed on the card.
Having a FILE OF LIFE card filled out and posted on your refrigerator will allow emergency medical personnel entering your home to treat you quickly and with greater certainty should you have a medical emergency.
The FILE OF LIFE is also useful to have in your wallet, purse, briefcase, backpack, and/or car’s glove compartment in case of emergency away from home.
This information card includes: your current medications, allergies, medical conditions, blood type, recent surgery, and emergency contact information.
Just like our detailed grocery lists, it is important to give thought to having your important medical information prepared, up to date, and easily accessible in case of an emergency.
The non-profit organization File of Life has updated their File of Life card to include COVID-19 preparedness and the new card is available here or from their website. If you already have a File of Life card, update it to the COVID-19 version.
If you do not have a refrigerator card or File of Life already posted, fill one out today. Make sure to update any other copy you keep in your wallet, purse, backpack, briefcase or car’s glove compartment.
If you would like assistance accessing documents to post on your refrigerator or help compiling your Personal Health Record, contact me so we can get started making sure your important information is comprehensive and organized.
Beside downloading the document, where else can you get one?
Check with your local Senior Center, Community Center, or Fire Department to see if you can get a FILE OF LIFE from them. I suggest using your favorite search engine and search “your town/city” “File of LIfe.” For example: “Brookline” “File of Life”
During this uncertain time is it more important than ever that we are prepared for an emergency. Contact me to help you prepare!
To make sure you are prepared view my blog posts: What to include in your Personal Health Record and
What to Include in Your Hospitalization "Go" Plan for additional helpful resources
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Connect With Us: When the complexity of your healthcare situation is too challenging to navigate on your own working with an independent board certified patient advocate can help cut through the “red tape” and reduce complications at an emotional time. Contact Ailene to learn more about the value of working with a private patient advocate.