Personal Health Care Passport

THE PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PASSPORT book helps individuals and families manage important medical information, chronicle health changes, better navigate the health care journey, and coordinate care across the continuum.
The Personal Health Care Passport (PHCP) helps foster a better dialog between health care providers and family members. It is an ideal tool for documenting recent changes in health, doctor visits, medical emergencies, traveling, and for recording changes in medications.

The PHCP can be a vital tool for long-distance caregivers
Ideal for new parents and young adults going off to college
Practical for people living with memory loss or cognitive impairments
Empower people having to make difficult decisions
Life line for sharing accurate information during an emergency
Enhance quality of care for the ones we love

HISTORY - In January 1997, my mother Lillian died at the age of 66 years of age from Lung Cancer and Emphysema. During her five-year battle with Lung Cancer she met with numerous health care specialist, had a multitude of procedures and all sorts of treatments. At the same time, my father was diagnosed with Cancer. It was a challenging time for my parents and our family. Coordinating care, meeting with all the different doctors, clinic staff, understanding all the different treatment options, managing the plethora of medications, organizing insurance papers, and dealing with the emotional roller coaster ride we were all on - was exhausting.

Like many families, my parents were overwhelmed with all the daunting decisions they faced and realized early on they needed to coordinate care and manage important medical information for easy access and accurate record keeping.

Having worked in healthcare for more than 20 years designing services and programs for people dealing with aging related issues and life altering conditions, I understand first-hand how having critical health care information can mean the difference between life and death. I also understand how overwhelming it can feel in a crisis when one is not able to share vital information that impact the outcome or care.

In an effort to help my parents manage all the different medical treatments, track an accurate health history with up-to-date changes, manage medication, and provide a vehicle for them to express the unmentionable, I created a journal for my mother that later evolved into the Personal Health Care Passport. My mother has since died, but her journal and words inspired me to create a template to enhance quality of care for others facing the health care journey and making difficult decisions as they age. I am pleased to share that my 86 year old father uses his PHCH each time he visits his doctors and pharmacist.

IT IS MY WISH that all of us in the future will be required to carry a Personal Health Care Passport to every appointment (Dentist, Eye Doctor, ER visit, and all other health care providers) just as we are required to carry a US Passport to enter other countries. We all need to be able to provide accurate and up-to-date information about our health and history to ensure we get the best quality care.

"The Personal Health Care Passport is a great resource. Today everyone must be his/her own health care advocate. The Passport is a valuable tool to empower people to take charge of their own health care. It is a must for anyone who is going to see a health care provider and wants to accurately communicate a complete health history. Keeping track of immunizations, family history, and hospitalizations can be overwhelming and this booklet makes it much easier. I strongly recommend the Personal Health Care Passport for everyone!"

Linda Mermelstein, MD,
MPHEast Northport, New York

"Where was The Personal Health Care Passport when I was treating patients? Ms. Kahn has created wonderful tool to empower people and enhance the doctor - patient relationship."

Dr. Jessica Tinianow
Chicago, Illinois

"The Personal Health Care Passport is an outstanding method of helping individuals and families outline and track essential medical information. It is an easy-to-use, practical and straight-forward option for organizing your life at a time when it is needed most..."

Darby Morhardt, MSW, LCSW
Research Assistant Professor
Cognitive Neurology & Alzheimer's Disease Center,
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

“The Personal Health Care Passport is an invaluable tool and a must have for all who want to ensure their loved-ones get the best care possible based on accurate information. All too often those we love and care for are unable to organize their medical information – now they can secure their vital information in one place.“

Dr. Charles J Sophy
Medical Director
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services

Click here to view the press release in Chicago Caregiver Magazine.

To order your PERSONAL HEALTH CARE PASSPORT contact the author, Melissa Kahn at the information provided below.
The cost is $10.00 per book plus tax, shipping and handling.


MELISSA KAHN melissa@kahnhealthcare.com Phone: 773.960.8007 Mailing address: 6007 North Sheridan Road Chicago, IL 60660