Doctors & patients are saying about 'A-Fib.com'...
"A-Fib.com is a great web site for patients, that is unequaled by anything else out there."
Dr. Douglas L. Packer, MD, FHRS, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
"Jill and I put you and your work in our prayers every night. What you do to help people through this [A-Fib] process is really incredible."
Jill and Steve Douglas, East Troy, WI
“I really appreciate all the information on your website as it allows me to be a better informed patient and to know what questions to ask my EP.
Faye Spencer, Boise, ID, April 2017
“I think your site has helped a lot of patients.”Dr. Hugh G. Calkins, MD Johns Hopkins,
Baltimore, MD
Why You Need an A-Fib Notebook and 3-Ring Binder
As you search for your Atrial Fibrillation cure, you will want to organize the information you are collecting. Start with a notebook and a three-ring binder or a file folder.
What to Include in Your A-Fib Binder
Your A-Fib binder is where you should file and organize all your A-Fib-related treatment information, such as:
• contact list of all health care providers and facilities
• lab test results, EKG strips and other medical records
• office visit notes and phone calls
• list of all medications
• health insurance claims and records
• records of any major medical event from the past two years
• completed worksheets and blanks ready for use
• research from the internet or medical center library
Available free worksheets: 10 Questions to Ask Before Taking Any Drug; 10 Questions to Ask When Interviewing any Doctor; Pre-visit First Appointment Worksheet; Keep an Inventory List of Your Medications
Make Medical Record-Keeping a Habit
Make Medical Record-Keeping a Habit
We strongly encourage you to get in the habit of keeping a copy of every test result you get in your three-ring binder. Don’t leave your doctor’s office, medical center or hospital without a copy of every test or procedure they perform. If the test result isn’t immediately available, have them mail it to you.
If you are missing some records, read our article, How to Request Copies of your Medical Records. We give you three ways to request your medical records from your doctors and medical providers.
Add Your Personal A-Fib Summary
Doctors appreciate knowledgeable, informed, and prepared patients. Each doctor will probably ask you much the same questions.
For efficiency, prepare your ‘Personal A-Fib Medical Summary’ and include a copy with each packet of medical records you send to doctors. Store the original and copies in your binder.
See our article on how to create Your Personal A-Fib Medical Summary.
Packets for Each New Doctor
Your A-Fib Binder holds all the information you need when seeing a new doctor (or interviewing a prospective doctor). You will want to send ahead of time a packet with your medical records, test results, and any applicable images or X-rays.
Monitor Progress of your A-Fib
Because A-Fib is a progressive disease, you should track if your heart’s measurements are getting worse, and by how much.
Ask your doctor for details of your heart dimensions and functions, including the diameter and volume of the left atrium, your Ejection Fraction (EF) and any other test results.
For future reference, store this benchmark data in your A-Fib binder.
Your A-Fib Binder is a Valuable Resource.
It will help you find your A-Fib cure!
