Many carers talk about how complicated and time-consuming paperwork can be. A social worker at the treatment centre can offer support with this part of your role.
The following tips may also help:
- Set up a system for organising paperwork to reduce stress. Use a folder, expanding file or filing cabinet to organise bills, receipts and letters from health professionals.
- Keep a record of all treatments and test results, and take it with you to appointments.
- Consider helping the person with cancer set up an online My Health Record. This stores their important health care information in one place and they can give permission for their health professionals to see it. If the person is not capable of making their own decisions, you may be able to apply to manage their account as the authorised representative.
- Consider using an app to store medical records on a smartphone or tablet. The Australian Government’s my health app can be connected to My Health Record.
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Dr Alison White, Palliative Medicine Specialist, Royal Perth Hospital, WA; Tracey Bilson, Consumer; Louise Dillon, Consumer; Louise Durham, Nurse Practitioner, Palliative Care Outpatients, Princess Alexandra Hospital, QLD; Katrina Elias, Carers Program, South Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, NSW; Jessica Elliott, Social Worker, Youth Cancer Services, Crown Princess Mary Cancer Centre, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Brendan Myhill, Social Worker and Bereavement Research Officer, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW; Penny Neller, Project Coordinator, National Palliative Care Projects, Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Queensland University of Technology, QLD; Olivia Palac, Acting Assistant Director, Occupational Therapy, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Nicole Rampton, Advanced Occupational Therapist, Cancer Services, Gold Coast University Hospital, QLD; Shirley Roberts, Nurse Consultant, Medical Oncology, Northern Adelaide Cancer Centre, SA; Dr Elysia Thornton-Benko, Specialist General Practitioner, and UNSW Research Fellow, NSW; Kathleen Wilkins, Consumer; Helen Zahra, Carers Program, South Western Sydney Local Health District, NSW Health, NSW.
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