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Action

Action
As you get older, you will be expected to take on more responsibility in your health care — knowing how to manage your health, and when to ask for help.

Tips and Links

  • Just TRAC it! List ALL allergies in your Notes app on your phone.
  • Get a MedicAlert bracelet. If you are between the ages of 4-14 and your school is in MedicAlert’s No Child Without program, you might be able to get a free bracelet! Check to see if your school in BC is registered here.
  • Did you get know you can also get a Medic alert tattoo?

Activities

Canadian Medic Alert Membership 

Tips and links

  • Use your phone or tablet to Just TRAC it!
    • Notes app: list the names of your medications, the dose, and how often you take them.
    • Calendar app: set an alarm reminding you when to take your medications and track any side effects.
    • Camera: take a photo of your medication labels.
  • Get a copy of your PharmaNet record – all the medications you have ever taken in BC – through your local pharmacy.
  • Are your parents worried about you taking your meds? Watch this video.
  • Look into free mobile apps to track your medications and send reminders.
  • Non-emergency questions for a Pharmacist can be answered through HealthLink BC or dial 8-1-1.

Activities

 

Tips and links

  • Use your phone to Just TRAC it!
    • In the Contacts app – add the phone number of your pharmacy and the name of your pharmacist.
    • In the Calendars app – keep track of the expiry dates for your prescriptions and set reminders to have them refilled.
  • Check pill containers for refills and ensure that you always have one refill handy.
  • If you’re planning to move away from home, check the locations of pharmacies in your new neighbourhood.
  • Know when medications require a Special Authority Request from Pharmacare and how to get this form completed and submitted.

Tips and Links

  • When you’re at the hospital, ask for copies of your blood test results.
  • Take a picture of your test results with your phone.
  • Always ask your health care providers to explain your test results.
  • At 16 years you can set up an E-Health profile to access all your lab results online.
 

Tips and Links

  • Ask and give your informed consent before any medical tests.
  • Check out the laws in BC around Confidentiality and Consent.
  • Write down reasons for tests in the Notes app in your phone. 

Activities

Getting Information to Make Informed Decisions

Tips and links

  • Post an emergency plan on your fridge at home.
  • Tools for you to create a mobile emergency plan.
  • Discuss key items and list them in the Notes app on your phone: name of condition, medications, allergies, mobility and communication issues.
  • Have a list of people who know about your health condition – keep a copy in print and on your phone.
  • Let BC Ambulance know about special communication, behaviour, or mobility needs.
  • TRAC it! Add emergency numbers to your Contacts app on your phone.

Activities

 

Tips and Links

  • Just TRAC it!: Add emergency numbers to your Contacts app on your phone.
  • Make sure your close friends have your family’s contact numbers on their phones.
  • Get a MedicAlert bracelet. If you are between the ages of 4-14 and your school is in MedicAlert’s No Child Without program, you might be able to get a free bracelet! Check to see if your school in BC is registered here.
  • Did you get know you can also get a Medic alert tattoo?

Activities

An Emergency PlanA Health Care AdvocateChoosing a Health Care AdvocateCanadian MedicAlert Membership
 

Tips and Links

 

Tips and links

  • Use your phone or tablet to Just TRAC it!
    • In the Calendar app – store your health care appointment dates and times, and set reminders or alarms to help you remember them.
    • In the Notes app – list your health care team, which could include your family practitioner (physician or nurse practitioner), specialists, nurses, physiotherapist, dietician, counsellor, and dentist, as a start. Include their names, roles, phone numbers, and emails. 
  • Think about how you would get to an appointment on your own. Consider transportation, cost, scheduling, and if you are comfortable going alone.
  • Check out options for public transit – you might be eligible for a discount!

Activities

 

Tips and Links

  • Collect all of your letters, reports, and lab results in a binder.
  • At 16 years you can set up an E-Health profile to access all your lab results and clinic letters online.
  • Learn about access to personal health care records before transferring to adult services.

  • Pick up a free Plan-It book from the Family Resource Library at BC Children’s Hospital.
  • Scan your documents, or keep them on a USB key in case of an emergency. Take them to your doctor’s appointments just in case!
  • Just TRAC it!: Make a checklist in the Notes app on your phone before and after appointments. Take photos of any important documents and store them on your phone and print them for your binder.

Activities

What I Need To Know About My Health ConditionGraduation Checklist
 
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