Build a treatment chronology
List each provider and visit date, the reason for the visit, tests and referrals, and any instructions you received. Use actual visit records where possible rather than reconstructing details from memory.
- Provider and appointment date
- Visit summary and referrals
- Medication and follow-up instructions
Keep costs separate from care
Store bills, insurer explanations and receipts together, but do not treat a billed amount as an amount you necessarily owe. Keep a separate record of missed work and employer communications.
- Bills and payment records
- Insurance explanations of benefits
- Work restrictions and time away
Protect private information
Use patient portals or other secure methods when obtaining and sharing records. Ask the firm how it handles sensitive files before sending them.
- Original files retained
- Secure sharing method confirmed
- Open questions for the provider or lawyer
Use the chronology in a consultation
The file helps a lawyer understand what is known, what is missing and what records may need to be requested. Medical questions belong with a health professional.