Having your basic medical information organized is crucial, especially in the case of an emergency. There are only a handful of facts that are important for your doctor to know in almost every encounter.

For example, it is critical for your doctor to know what allergies you have. This is not something you should forget when giving your medical history and this is something your doctors need to know in case of an emergency, even if you are not able to tell them.

It is critical for your doctor to know of your medical history and allergies. However, many people forget to mention this information during a medical interview.

However, you will be amazed at how often people forget this information during a medical interview – this is why it is very important to have a simple one page document that keeps this information organized. This document can serve to inform medical personnel in case of emergency and when you are unable to answer questions for whatever reason.

These important facts include your primary medical history, your surgical history, allergies, current medications and an emergency contact that knows you and can answer medical questions on your behalf if necessary.

Additionally, you may want to record some details about each of these facts. For allergies, it is important to write down specific reactions you have had to medications. For surgical history, year of surgery can be important and you may want to write down the reason if it isn’t obviously clear. For current medications, write down the dosage.

Below is a sample personal history and attached is a template page that you can complete and keep with you (perhaps in your wallet next to your identification – this is something medical personnel may check if you are unable to communicate with them). Simply click the link below to download the template and fill it in with your own medical information.

Medical Information Template

Below is the minimal information everyone should have with them. Even if you do not have allergies or medical problems, this information may be important in case of an emergency. Download the template and modify it to fit your medical history. In further articles, we will discuss how to create a complete medical portfolio.

You can download the template here.