overview |testimonials | buy the book

Like most doctors, I thought I knew a lot about Medicine, and I probably do, even quite a bit about Health Insurance. But when I read Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track by Lillian Shah and Laura Messinger, I realized that I knew little about the issues addressed there. The book focuses on how to keep track of your own health status: maintenance, labs and procedures, appointments, medications and future needs.

Just as significantly, it deals with the emerging issue in American Medicine – how to deal with an insurance-driven health care system that is often drowning in bureaucracy. The advice on tracking your deductible, expenditures, co-pays and other financial items will save many Americans huge sums of money.

Anyone will be well-served by reading this book and taking its advice seriously, including doctors and nurses who usually pay more attention to everyone else's health than their own.
Dan DePietropaolo, MD, Delaware Family Physician of the Year, 2008


In our complex and confusing health care delivery system, all tools that help organize one’s health information are of value, but these tools are particular gems. The book is very well organized and exceptionally easy to use.

The information in your book is invaluable in knowing what I should be tracking. Using your charts as a model, I have individualized my own forms. As you suggest in your book, each person’s record seems to be unique.
Beth-Anne M. Christopher MS, RN, Instructor, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago


As a business owner in the Financial Services area I have seen the obvious advantages of organization. Now there is a book that truly shows the advantages and benefits of organizing your personal health information. The cost savings and clarity of having everything in one place is priceless. As health expenses continue to increase these advantages will only multiply.

I feel this book is a must for anyone who is looking to have a comprehensive financial plan– also anyone who is caring for a parent or anyone who wants to give their own personal health history to their children.

The book is clear and well organized and makes it easy to get started. With charts that are logical and comprehensive, it is a must-have for maintaining a comprehensive personal health history.
Jason Driver, Dunham & Associates Inc


Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track is more than worth the price of the book. You can save thousands. First of all, do you know what kind of health insurance you have? What the real costs are? Who actually pays? For what? And how much? This book, for the first time, gave me clarity. It helped me understand clearly the words associated with insurance – to truly know what words like premium and co-pay really mean.
Barbara Alexander, Radio Host, Montecino, CA


If you’re looking for easy-to-understand explanations with a well-organized system for recording your health needs, look no further than Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track: A Complete Guide to Maintaining Your Own Medical Records.

This book, with its powerful new CD, provides the reader with a better understanding of their medical needs with a clear-cut organizational system to guide them. The CD of checklists, logs, grids and forms will meet almost any health or well-being related situation you are likely to encounter.

Want to organize your growing list of prescriptions? To see at a glance the names, strengths, costs and insurance reimbursements for your medications? What about that maze of medical Insurance costs, entitlements, reimbursements and tax deductions?

You will find a printable form ready for your use for nearly every health related situation you are likely to encounter. Take a few minutes to take charge of your life. You will be glad you did. I know I am!"
Lois W. Stern, Author, Sex Lies And Cosmetic Surgery


This book is packed with helpful tips and advice and a comprehensive set of time saving, money saving and even lifesaving record forms. It will be a godsend to people facing serious medical bills and expenses and long-term treatment.
Paul Krupin


You certainly make a dynamic duo. Charisma and sound advice don’t typically appear on the same bill at Borders - you two are an exception.
Laura Orsic, Montessori teacher


What a great book! As a dentist I know how important record keeping is. However, as a recent breast cancer patient, I found the numerous doctors and frequent appointments overwhelming.

I used to jot notes on the back of scrap paper and put them in piles to organize eventually. Now I have one place where I go to keep every doctor appointment or blood test documented in an organized and handy manner.

Nothing is better than having one place to keep all my medical records and important information. This book has helped make dealing with stressful situations a lot less stressful for me.
Melanie Gullett, DDS, Los Angeles, CA


Your book has been very helpful. We had our medical records and prescriptions scattered all over the house. It has been very helpful to have a central location where we can keep everything together.

Recently I wanted t give a friend some advice about his recently diagnosed prostate cancer. I had a complete reference in your book about my own diagnosis, what I considered and the actions I took. I was also able to provide him with a history of my recuperation after the brachytherapy. Without your record book it would have been impossible.

Best regards and thanks for providing this most helpful means of keeping track of my medical history.
Richard W. Johnson, Wilmington, DE


Your book is remarkably helpful. We use it extensively in the organization that I work with, Volunteer Guardians. We provide court-ordered guardians for people in nursing homes who have no family and are not mentally competent to make their own medical decisions, or other decisions regarding their quality of life.
Sonya Evans, Coordinator, Volunteer Guardians, Central Ohio


I called my cardiologist to make my bi-yearly appointment for a recently diagnosed and quite serious condition that needs careful monitoring. Receiving no answer I re-dialed. Still no answer.

I went to the building in downtown Manhattan where my doctor’s practice was located and was told by the security guard that the offices were empty and there was no forwarding address. He even took me up in the elevator so I could see for myself.

After several weeks of fruitless detective work I resigned myself to the fact that the AMA had no clue, nor did anyone else, as to my doctor’s whereabouts.

My new doctor required an entire new series of expensive re-testing. Needles to say, I now keep my own backup set of health records.
Anthony LaTorella, NYC


I provide basic health information to my students and teach them that knowledge leads to empowerment. I recommend Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track to my co-teachers and to the parents of my students because it is such a clear and simple way to keep track of the facts.
Carol Shumway, R.N., School Nurse and Health Educator at the Delaware Military Academy Charter School, Wilmington, DE


I plan to recommend Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track to all my clients and fellow therapists. It’s the simplest way I’ve seen to keep accurate medical records for the entire family.
Melora Lucas, LCSW


Best Organizer! Wonderful help! I highly recommend it to my fellow caregivers.
Maggie Leland, reader


I never kept my own medical records until I read Keeping Healthy by Keeping Track. I used the book mostly as a resource to create my personal record on a set of cards similar to those I used to keep notes when I was at London University.
Penny Contractor, MS


I keep my mom company, and help with meals, doctor appts, etc. One Friday afternoon 6pm just got off work, changed clothes & checked on mom - she was in her bed. SICK as a dog. I called my sister, she said call 911, mom said no, but she was so out of it so I called 911. I got in my car & went to the emergency room too.

I had nothing, no list of meds, nothing. OK this was Friday, & I thought mom was dying. Thought nothing of her pill box. Thought the doctors would surely know by now mom's meds! Hospital didn't even ask me for a list! (Don't assume.)

Sunday I still hadn't thought of mom's meds. I was also out of it! Back & forth visiting. Talking to sister.

Visited mom Sunday - she was in middle of a huge anxiety attack - she still was not given meds! Doctor on call had me go back home for mom's pill box in meantime said he'd have hospital pharmacy fill her scripts.

ALL of this didn't have to happen! Had I made up my RED NOTEBOOK & had it by the door, I would have calmly taken it with me to the hospital.

I use the RED NOTEBOOK for me too! I have one handy place now to list my medical history. I love the charts. Everything is in one place. All info goes in my RED NOTEBOOK. I have told my friends on www.dailystrength.org to visit your website!

Now I have time for other important things like doing crafts, playing with my kittens and just being relaxed.
Sandi Saunders, Wilmington DE


You say you’re not high tech or medical people but I was delighted to find this a unique book—extremely readable and very informative. You don’t just tell people what they should do but you lay it out so they can actually keep their records straight.
Dr. Jane Brody has a weekly Radio Program “Your Family’s Health” on Radio Station WHPC 90.3 FM, The Voice of Nassau College, Garden City NY. Dr. Brody is Professor of Nursing at the College.