Customer Reviews

The Savard Health Record: A Six-Step System for Managing Your Healthcare

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What a fantastic record book! The "Savard Health Record" provides a solution to a problem my husband and I encountered approximately two years ago. After my father passed away, my mentally handicapped brother and sister came to live with us. Among our many new responsibilities was meeting their health-care needs. When I took my brother and sister for their first physical, I wondered how I was going to keep track of all that was happening to them medically? I could barely remember most things about my own health, not to mention health histories, of my husband, my children, and my brother and sister. I felt that I would just have to count on their doctors to have all of the information they needed. Then I heard about the "Savard Health Record". What a fantastic tool for keeping all important medical information organized for my family and especially my brother and sister! I also appreciate the peace of mind that I'll know when my brother and sister are in someone else's care when I'm away. I can leave their health records with the relative or friend who is caring for them and know that the caregiver will have all of the information needed for them in case of a medical emergency. "The Savard Health Record" is a great tool which gives us the means to take control of our health care and of the health care of those we love, especially those who don't have the abilbty to do this for themselves.

Dr. Savard has put together a simple binder-formatted book that makes it easy to get organized when it comes to your health records.

As someone with hypothyroidism, a chronic illness that requires frequent blood tests, it's really critical for me to stay organized. This format could be of help to those of us who need to stay on top of our tests, results, and health information in order to live well.

I recommend this to anyone with a chronic condition or disease, or a family's health records to manage.

A few years ago I never gave it a thought to collect, store and actually learn how to read my test results. The current times have changed that. We moved a few years ago, and I like so many others thought that my medical records moved right along with me to my new doctor. Wrong. I developed a medical problem where I needed to refer to old medical records. It took months and alot of grief to have my records transferred to my new doctor, but I was persistant and finally, they were sent. I can't begin to tell you the difference it has made for me to have a hard copy of all my test results, doctors summaries, medications, allergies, etc., all filed in my "The Savard Health Record." The specialists I see have been impressed with my record keeping system. I'm now prepared for every office visit by taking my Health Record book with me. I have my office visit form filled out with my questions and concerns. Physician's can no longer give us the time they once did. Practices are much too large for any physician to know the history of each patient. I am confident, and no longer feel powerless, in helping to make the correct decisions about my health and health care. "The Savard Health Record" includes an emergency information wallet card that I carry along with my insurance card. What good is insurance if one's vital health information is not known or forgotten in an emergency?

I wish I could have had this book 25 years ago!

Due to two major moves, several job changes and some frustrating switches in insurance carriers, my family's health records are scattered among many physicians' offices and health care institutions. It's going to take a while to obtain these records, but Dr. Savard's very informative, easy-to-understand system makes it as easy as possible. Her health care management system is definitely the perfect antidote to the loss of control that patients feel today as they deal with what can be a very confusing heatlh care system in general.

Anyone who has a chronic health condition, like my husband's sinus problems, will especially appreciate the value of having personal health information so easily accessible. My husband's treatment for the past 13 years has included surgeries, special medications and, most recently, allergy testing. I have always assumed his health records would be available to us if needed, but this book has helped me to understand the importance of gathering critical information ahead of time.

I plan to buy this book for extended family members and friends who are getting married and having babies. What a wonderful way to show special people how much you care for them!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is proactive about their health care and wants to help their physician do the best job possible!

Last month, my mother had to go into the hospital for hip replacement surgery. Several years ago, I'd heard Dr. Savard speak on the importance of keeping your own medical records and our company ordered protytypes of her book to distribute to all of the employees. I ordered extra sets for my family and friends. As a result, when my mother's doctor needed fast information on her previous blood work and EKG information, all of the information was neatly collected in her Records book. I believe that having that information instantly available really did save her life.

PS. when I was was in a bike wreck last summer, I was able to tell the doctor in our remote vacation spot the exact date of my last tetnus shot because I always carry the Savard "emergency card" (that comes with the record book) in my wallet - because I knew when I had my last tetnus, I saved money and a poke in the arm with a sharp needle....a Victory for the patient!

I must admit that I rarely go to a physician for check-ups; I really only go to have tests that I need for my age,i.e., mammograms. Doctors may have considered me noncompliant about which I didn't care, at least then. I've had a rude awakening about my health records just last year. By hazard, I learned that my Women' Health Center(where I had my mammograms) was closed without any notification to me. Unsuccessfully, I tried to locate my films, for my GYN asked me to have another one, and I needed to have my former ones sent to the hospital. No one was able to locate my films. I really got the runaround and was quite annoyed, first at the Center that lost them , then at myself. By having The Savard Health Record I know what I need to do to take charge of my health. It is really my responsiblity to keep my own records. Although I never received my previous films, I did have another mammogram which I now keep at home. I am in my 40's and I believe it's up to me to stay fit and to stay alert. I started the Health Record by completing the Health at a Glance Form(simple) and the Family Tree(intersting). Now I know that test results and records are legally mine, so I'll collect them and file them for me. This Health Record System is an insurance plan for the future. I still don't often go to a physician, but I feel well informed. In particular, check out the USER'S GUIDE. It is chalked full of healthful/helpful information.

Using this system it is hugely time-consuming to establish the record-keeping system. This is especially so if you are doing it for a family--and if the family has one or more chronically ill persons it becomes more complicated and time-consuming. However, having the system in place and updated means taking control of our own health care. It's way past time that each of us take some responsibility instead of expecting some omnipotent health care provider to know it all. The Savard system is clunky, it takes time and effort to set the system up and there is no way one person's medical record could fit in that notebook. But it is a good starting point and it is extremely useful information.

If education is power, Marie Savard teaches us that learning about how to take responsibility for our own health is the ultimate in personal power. Thank you Dr. Savard for a lesson which we all need to master.

Until recently, I kept no health records and followed the school of thought, "doctor knows best". Then I ran into some health problems, an excellent doctor, and THE SAVARD HEALTH RECORD. A combination of an excellent doctor and THE SAVARD HEALTH RECORD is saving my life! Without the monitoring by my doctor and my own monitoring through THE SAVARD HEALTH RECORD, I would probably be a medical statistic proving what can happen when heart disease and out of control diabetes mix.

I am lucky to have an excellent doctor who works on both preventive and regular health care. Not everyone is so lucky, but with THE SAVARD HEALTH RECORD the lay person can know what should be going on in their health life, in order to better prevent problems. For example, the reminder in the book that one needs to have one's colon checked upon reaching the age of 50 can be a life saving suggestion. The record section is invaluable. With a bit of effort, mostly done while waiting for the doctor, a patient can keep track of their health and their health care. Seeing records and office visit memos gathered in order has helped me see the big picture and appreciate where I need to go in order to survive with a decent quality of life. I believe that THE SAVARD HEALTH RECORD is essential for everyone!

I realize that managing my own health and health records is important, but this book/product/ service seems likes its taking the issue to extremes. After reviewing it, I had to tell my myself honestly that I would not take the time to complete all of the information that is required both for the initial pass and to keep it updated. Perhaps if I had a chronic medical condition or did not trust my physician I'd find it more useful, unfortunately I'm afraid that this will find a dust-collecting space on my bookshelf, until I toss it--uncompleted.

There is some good information here, but nothing that I have not gotten from my own physicians. My health records have followed me consistently and reliably throughout my many moves.