When you took your Disease & Medical Science courses, these were taken more from the perspective of acquiring pathophysiology information to be able to do various HIM functions
such as coding quality reviews of documentation. This project is designed to look at this
same information in a different perspective – that of being a potential patient, a caregiver,
one concerned with maintaining good health for both self and those in our care. This
perspective on personal pathophysiology is also very important with the emphasis being
placed on individuals maintaining their own person health record (PHR).
To complete this project, you are to:
Data collection: Reflect on your own family medical history to include what you
currently know about familial illnesses/conditions plus what you can find out through questioning your family members. For this project, you are to just go back two
generations (your parents and grandparents). You should interview these individuals
or those who would have this information about each of these family members.
An interview/ conversation is necessary as we want you to gather as much information
as possible, not just what you think you know about your parents and grandparents.
Data Organizing: Plan a chart of the family tree to illustrate family medical
history of familial illnesses, possible genetic factors that would affect one’s
health.
Data Display: Produce a chart using Word or Power Point which visually illustrates family medical history and is professionally presented. Go to web site at the
US Dept. of Human Services www.hhs.gov/familyhistory for more information
about family history and also a template and chart for illustrating your family
health history. Use these templates to record the information that you find out.
This also will be a part of what is submitted for this assignment.
Data analysis: Review the chart for patterns taking into consideration such
things as whether or not 2 or more relatives have the same disease, possible
sex-linked diseases, conditions that might be the result of certain lifestyle
choices, etc.
Reflection: Develop a written report that addresses the following reflections questions.
* Do you think your current lifestyle choices combined with your genetic history will increase your likelihood of developing a disease?
* If there are diseases that may affect your future health and well-being, what should you do to prevent this from happening? Life-style changes, see a physician, etc.
*Do you plan to share what you’ve leaned with other family members?
*Other thoughts or comments
To be submitted: First of all, please only submit what you are comfortable in sharing. All information will be kept private and confidential.
The family tree/familial medical history chart
3-4 page paper outlining your familial medical history, your research of preventive/treatment measures for these illnesses, and comments based on the reflection above.
Include in your paper one-two paragraphs describing how you would incorporate this information into a Personal Health Record (PHR)
• For each project, a bibliography/references identifying all sources used, including persons interviewed or surveyed must be included.
• All projects must be submitted via TRACS (NOT the instructor’s e-mail).
• Read the instructions for each project carefully. For questions, seek clarification from the instructor noted for each project.
• Review textbooks, literature and where applicable, speak to professionals in the field to complete these projects. Each resource used is to be included in the bibliography.
• All work must be neatly typed, grammatically correct and contain no typographical errors. The student’s work should be impeccable. Poorly prepared, written and/or constructed projects will be graded accordingly or not accepted.
Things to remember: This is assignment was strictly designed for awareness and fun. Again, all information is confidential.