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.
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- 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 HealthLinkBC or dial 8-1-1.
Take a Medication QuizBe Your Own Best AdvocateHow to Talk to Your Pharmacist - 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 Caledars 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.
- 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.
- Ask your nurse for the names of equipment or supplies you might need and ordering instructions.
- Just TRAC it!: Add list of equipment and supplies to the Notes app on your phone. Include suppliers and delivery details.
If receiving At Home benefits, apply for equipment and service benefits before 18 years of age.
If you are eligible for the People with Disabilities Benefit (PWD), some equipment and supplies are funded.
If you require equipment and assistant devices for communication and living, learn about available programs:
- 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 famly 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!
Getting Ready for a Health Care AppointmentTransportation and Getting Around Back to Youth Toolkit