Using a Care Binder to Stay Organized

Parents: In caring for your child with special health needs, you may get information and paperwork from many sources. A Care Binder can help you organize the most important information in a central place and share key information with members of your child's care team.

Young adults: You may get information and paperwork from many sources related to your health and care. A Care Binder can help you organize the most important information in a central place and share key information with members of your healthcare team.

At the end of this article is a link to where you can download Care page templates. Look through the pages and print those that you think will be helpful.

What is a Care Binder?

A Care Binder is an organizing tool for families who have children with special health care needs. Use a Care Binder to keep track of important information about your child's health and care.

How can a Care Binder help me?

In caring for your child with special health needs, you may get information and paperwork from many sources. A Care Binder helps you organize the most important information in a central place. A Care Binder makes it easier for you to find and share key information with others who are part of your child's care team.

Use your Care Binder to:

• Track changes in your child's medicines or treatments
• List telephone numbers for health care providers and community organizations
• Prepare for appointments
• File information about your child's health history
• Share new information with your child's primary doctor, school nurse, daycare staff, and others caring for your child

What are some helpful hints for using my child's Care Binder?

• Store the Care Binder where it is easy to find. This helps you and anyone who needs information in your absence.
• Add new information to the Care Binder whenever there is a change in your child's treatment.
• Consider taking the Care Binder with you to appointments and hospital visits so that information you need will be close at hand.

How do I set up my child's Care Binder?

Step 1: Gather information you already have.

• Gather up any health information you already have about your child. This may include reports from recent doctor's visits, immunization records, recent discharge summary of a hospital stay, this year's school plan, test results, or informational pamphlets.

Step 2: Look through the pages of the Care Binder.

• Which of these pages could help you keep track of information about your child's health or care?
• Choose the pages you like. Print copies of any you think you will use. They are on the www.chop.edu internet site. Type in Care Binder.

Step 3: Decide which information about your child is most important to keep in the Care Binder.

• What information do you look up often?
• What information is needed by others caring for your child?
• Consider storing other information in a file drawer or box where you can find it if needed.

Step 4: Put the Care Binder together.

• Everyone has a different way of organizing information. The only important thing is to make it easy for you to find again. We put together the supplies you need to get started.
• Ask for help from your health care providers.

Download templates of Care pages that may be useful for you.