My priority in my medical care, at my current age of 63, includes continuity of care and good medical records. I am seen by all my doctors regularly. I am extremely compliant. My asthma/allergies and arthritis are now manageable. My migraines ceased.
We fill all prescriptions at Walgreens so our medication records are all on one system. I feel very strongly about having a single pharmacy. I use one location in our town the majority of the time. It is open 24/365.
The Walgreens computer will likely catch drug interaction problems and errors in dosage. Our long history of medications is housed on the Walgreens computer system. When we travel, a Walgreens is usually available. A real person is available by phone or in person.
Walgreens app is easy to use. I like their notification options. I order and correspond thru the app. My history is readily available on the app, so I can look up past medication.
I also keep a typed list of my current medications under “Walgreens” in the notes section of the address book on my phone. Then I can easily pull it up at medical appointments.
I am in the process of purposely consolidating my doctors for the same reason, to have as many of my medical records as possible on the same computer system.
This is where I am in my consolidation process -
I have all lab work and scans, including my annual mammogram, done through one/the same medical network specifically, so those records are on one computer system.
My PCP who happens to be an internist, my cardiologist, my physical therapist, my sleep doctor, and my OBGYN are all in this medical network/same computer system too.
The PCP and cardiologist and physical therapist are new to me within the last 3-4 years. My sleep doctor was added 2 years ago. My OBGYN is new to me last fall. These were purposeful changes to the same medical network/computer system.
The walk in clinic, that I use for illnesses and injuries, is also in this same medical network/computer. So they have access to all my pertinent/important/main records instantly.
This walk in clinic has many locations and is open every day 8am-8pm. It is well staffed. If I have a problem, I (now) go quickly. Access to this clinic has increased the speed at which I am seen and improved my quality of life. This is a big change for me.
On the rare occasion I go to the emergency room or am admitted to the hospital, it is in this same medical system/computer.
Starting this year, my colonoscopies will be through this same medical network/computer. I am switching doctors so this happens.
Starting this year, I am also switching my eye doctor. My current ophthalmologist is getting ready to retire. I am proactively switching to a new ophthalmologist who is on the same system as my other doctors. UPDATE - Staying with my original ophthalmologist. There isn’t one available in my primary network.
I have three sets of doctors, I am keeping so far, who are NOT in my main medical network/computer. They are four orthopedic physicians all in the same practice (hands, knees, back/neck, feet), my dermatologist, my asthma/allergist.
I see all those doctors at least once a year. My records with these doctors are on separate systems at each office.
These stand alone physicians are not easily replaced within my main medical network. So far, it is not causing problems to have the medical records separate.
My ENT is also stand alone. I see that doctor as needed, a few times a decade.
My dentist is also stand alone. I see them every 6 months. Sometimes the dentist refers me to a stand alone oral surgeon, knock on wood, that rarely happens.
