How to track medical data?
April 30, 2024 8:18 AM Subscribe
I want to track some simple medical data over time: cholesterol, blood pressure, AHI, PSA, and the like. Is a spreadsheet the simplest way to do this, or is there some purpose-built tool?
My medical test results are spread across several medical systems and doctors' offices -- but I have hard copies to many of them. I would like to bring them all into one place for my own curiosity, and to show my primary care doctor.
Not looking for a live link to those systems, just an easy way to input data points and get graphs.
My medical test results are spread across several medical systems and doctors' offices -- but I have hard copies to many of them. I would like to bring them all into one place for my own curiosity, and to show my primary care doctor.
Not looking for a live link to those systems, just an easy way to input data points and get graphs.
Best answer: Honestly after all the apps I've looked at that have been scammy privacy laden ad filled crap, a spreadsheet is likely the easiest option that will be free and not feed you health ads about xyz condition for the rest of time.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:07 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:07 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I use a spreadsheet to track that data. When I want to show it to a doctor, I save it as a PDF and add it to a doc that grows in increments, starting with
1) medical history info of my direct relations and causes of death if deceased
2) my own medical history in chronological order, with relevant doctors' names next to anything significant
3) concerns and questions that creep up between annual checkups
posted by cocoagirl at 12:47 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
1) medical history info of my direct relations and causes of death if deceased
2) my own medical history in chronological order, with relevant doctors' names next to anything significant
3) concerns and questions that creep up between annual checkups
posted by cocoagirl at 12:47 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Doctor here. I agree that rolling your own spreadsheet is probably the best approach for a small amount of simple data. I have plenty of patients (a large number of them retired engineers...) who keep records this way.
That said, if you are bringing your spreadsheet in for your doctors' review, I do recommend bringing copies of the original lab reports with you as well (if you have them). They sometimes have additional information that can be important, and I hate to report that I have had patients in the past who falsified lab reports, leading me to have a very strong preference to see the originals when they're important (e.g., if I'm going to order a treatment or intervention based on the results).
posted by telegraph at 2:42 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
That said, if you are bringing your spreadsheet in for your doctors' review, I do recommend bringing copies of the original lab reports with you as well (if you have them). They sometimes have additional information that can be important, and I hate to report that I have had patients in the past who falsified lab reports, leading me to have a very strong preference to see the originals when they're important (e.g., if I'm going to order a treatment or intervention based on the results).
posted by telegraph at 2:42 PM on April 30 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: OK, spreadsheet it is! Thanks, y'all. :7)
Some years ago, we were trying to find anyone who could help a member of my family identify & treat a long-time condition. Every new specialist would order the same test, and then they would have...a single data point.
One day I put all of the test results into Excel and added a few markers for major health events, and the next doctor we showed it to was delighted & amazed. (They still ordered that same test, of course...)
Today I discovered that my local hospital system now can display all of the results for a given test on a chart & graph, which is amazing!!
posted by wenestvedt at 10:56 AM on May 1
Some years ago, we were trying to find anyone who could help a member of my family identify & treat a long-time condition. Every new specialist would order the same test, and then they would have...a single data point.
One day I put all of the test results into Excel and added a few markers for major health events, and the next doctor we showed it to was delighted & amazed. (They still ordered that same test, of course...)
Today I discovered that my local hospital system now can display all of the results for a given test on a chart & graph, which is amazing!!
posted by wenestvedt at 10:56 AM on May 1
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I am a sickly dog, but even still I only have to do data entry 4-6 times a year.
posted by munchingzombie at 8:53 AM on April 30 [1 favorite]