Become a Medical Advocate for Your Child: If You Don't Do It, No One Will

I have a child with a serious chronic illness. My child was diagnosed only after I spent months trying to convince medical professionals that there was something very wrong. Even after I learned the hard way about how doctors sometimes disregard a parent's instincts and observations, I allowed my child's health to deteriorate for another year following diagnosis, all because I didn't feel qualified to question the specialist treating him. When it became apparent that my child's doctor was not listening to me or my child, I started to look around for help, and I began developing new strategies for navigating the medical system.
What I learned has saved me a lot of time, grief, and feelings of helplessness. Whether you have a child with a serious or chronic health condition, or your child is rarely ill, it is important for every parent to learn how to become an effective medical advocate for their child. With doctors and medical professionals overloaded and bogged down in administrative details, even the most caring doctor can fail to see the overall picture of your child's health and well-being. It's important for you, as the parent, to be a vocal central clearinghouse for all of your child's medical information. Here are some tips for getting started. And don't worry: being an advocate for your child is much easier than being an advocate for yourself!

Organize. Even if your child is perfectly healthy and only sees the doctor for well-child checks, it's important to keep good medical records in a central location. Create a 1" ring binder to contain all of your child's medical information. Include plastic sleeves to hold small papers like receipts. Attach a pen to it. Stick one of those portable three-hole punches in it.