Child records

Let me start by saying I feel I had a light bulb moment and some wild break thrus with some research. The research led to a lot of questions of one I want to discuss or ask in this post. Why is it that children’s records of their cp do not get transfered to adult doctors? Or why the parents are not given a copy for the child when they become of age so these records can be useful to adult doctors? I recently got my childhood medical records from the shriners where I under went treatment as a child for my cerebral palsy, as I was researching certain issues Im experiencing and found all the answers I was looking for in my childhood records. We who live with cerebral palsy deal with a great amount of differtent issues that either do not go away as an adult or underlying conditions compact the exsisting problems we struggled with as a child. These problems follow us all the days of our lives, some of these are back pain, posture issues, scoliosis, muscular skeltelal issues such as hips, shoulders, knees, the list goes on and on. How helpful would it be for us as adults if we had from the get go at 18 a copy of our childhood records. This is not the case due to hipaa laws and state laws, rules and regulations. When we are 18 some doctors continue to see us into our adult hood but when we have to find a dr. at the age of 18 or 21, we end up starting from scratch in explaining our situation and giving the adult doctor as much information as possible. While in a locked file somewhere sits our childhood records with tons of notes and information that could help us advocate for ourselves as adults. This needs to change. We should recieve our records when we are discharged, to take with us to our next location of professionials to aide them so they can aide and treat us more effectively. I want to suggest to every parent and young adult reading this to go to the place of treatment from your childhood and get a copy of your medical records to go with you as you go to your adult doctors. This i wish i would have done sooner. Take it from someone with experience, the records are extremely informitive and helpful in aiding a professional with treating you and it gives them history on your specific type and case of cerebral palsy. There is so much that needs to change in the system about cerebral palsy, example, more research needs to be done with adults on cp not just children alone,more resources and help needs to be provided for us as adults. Please, dont forget to advocate for yourself, your family, friend who struggles with cerebral palsy. We have to advocate cuz no one else will. A good support system is important as well. If you are reading this and need a support system or just want other adults to speak with go to facebook and go to cerebral palsy sunrise. We are a support group for all ages who live with cp. Lets stand together and make a change 🙂

Author: My cerebral palsy life

I became a writer in 2010, then I pursued an education in health care administration. Working to get a medical coding certificate to add to my professional titles. I and my husband have 2 adult children, 2 dogs. I was a single mother of two for 18 years. I have personal experience in health care as a cna, mental health and raising children with developmental disabilities. I am an advocate for the disabled as I was born with cerebral palsy and have learned to overcome challenges in life. My motto is life lessons are to be teachable, to educate, share our skills and learn to understand others that we encounter on life's journey. View all posts by My cerebral palsy life