If asked, how many of us can remember the medications or vaccines that we took, or tests and procedures we underwent in our lifetime?

Trusting multiple medical providers to keep impeccable medical records for patients is unrealistic. As a result, doctors oftentimes misdiagnose patients – or make severe medical errors – due to lack of sufficient and accurate health information.

Cautious Patient provides access to a free, easy-to-use and secure electronic personal health record, the PatientAlwaysFirst Health Record, to enable individuals to store all vital health information at a single location. The health records are created in a format easily recognized by doctors to ensure a clear understanding of patients’ medical history, which can even be used in emergencies, like emergency room visits. The PatientAlwaysFirst Health Record additionally helps manage chronic conditions, by providing an understanding of what goals individual should have for their health conditions, and helps them set up plans to achieve those goals.

A secure and easily accessible information repository like the PatientAlwaysFirst Health Record keeps procedures, hospitalizations, diseases, immunizations and family health history in one location, and allows for fast and accurate information transfer during new-doctor, emergency-room, and waiting room visits.

The initial version of the PatientAlwaysFirst Health Record was developed by PeaceHealth’s “Whatcom County Pursuing Perfection Project” in Bellingham, Wash. They shared the source code with the Cautious Patient Foundation. Since then the Foundation has invested significant time and resources in further developing this innovative and secure technology.