Keeping a Record: Your Health History Matters
Track your service and family history through My HealtheVet
My HealtheVet offers online tools to help Veterans manage their health. You may know some, like sending a Secure Message or refilling prescriptions online. But there are tools that you might not have seen. We want you to know more about My HealtheVet’s “hidden gems.”
Military History Journals
Your military history is important to your health care team. It helps them get to know you better. It also reminds you and your doctor to talk about service-related health risks. Depending on when and where you served, you could be eligible for screenings, health exams, and registries.
Log your service history online with My HealtheVet. Use the Military Health History Journal to record entries that include Event Title, Event Date, and Service Branch. You can choose to share this record with your doctor.
Family History Journals
It’s important to keep track of your family’s health history. Your doctor may want to talk about how your family history impacts your health. Keeping a record makes it easier for you to remember and share information.
Log what you know in the Family Health History Journal. Record information about your relatives, their relationship to you, and the health issue they experienced. For example, it’s good to know if you have a close relative with a genetic condition. You can share the journal with your doctor.
Share your journals
The information you enter in your health journals is private. No one will see the entries, except you. You can choose to share information with your health care team.
Print and bring journals to an appointment as a reminder of what to share. Or, send the entries to your health care team through a Secure Message. Ask your doctor if you have questions about how your military or family history might impact you.
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