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Health Logging System

The health logging system allows patients to track their daily health status, enabling care teams to monitor patient wellbeing remotely.

Overview

Health logs are patient-created entries that capture:

  • Physical health status
  • Emotional/mental state
  • Symptoms
  • Privacy level (sensitive/non-sensitive)

For Patients

Creating Health Logs

  1. Navigate to Daily Health Logging
  2. Click Add New Health Log
  3. Fill in your current status:
    • Physical Status: Select all applicable conditions
    • Emotional Status: Describe your mental/emotional state
    • Symptoms: Detail any symptoms you're experiencing
    • Sensitive: Mark if you want this private from family

Privacy Controls

Sensitive Flag: When toggled on:

  • Only you and medical staff can view the log
  • Family members cannot see this information
  • Useful for private medical matters

When to Mark Sensitive:

  • Personal medical issues
  • Mental health concerns
  • Embarrassing symptoms
  • Information you're not ready to share with family

Best Practices

  1. Log Daily: Consistent logging helps identify trends
  2. Be Honest: Accurate information helps your care team
  3. Be Detailed: Provide specific descriptions
  4. Use Sensitivity Wisely: Balance privacy with family involvement
  5. Track Changes: Note improvements or worsening conditions

For Medical Staff

Viewing Health Logs

Doctors and Nurses can view all health logs, including sensitive ones:

  1. Navigate to patient records or monitoring dashboard
  2. View comprehensive health log history
  3. Filter by date range or keywords
  4. Identify trends and patterns

Interpreting Health Logs

Look For:

  • Trends: Improving or worsening over time
  • Patterns: Recurring symptoms or issues
  • Gaps: Missing logs may indicate problems
  • Sudden Changes: Rapid deterioration or improvement
  • Consistency: Regular logging shows engagement

Red Flags:

  • Worsening physical symptoms
  • Increasing pain levels
  • New symptoms appearing
  • Emotional distress indicators
  • Missed logging for extended periods

Taking Action

Based on health logs:

  • Schedule Follow-ups: For concerning trends
  • Adjust Treatment: Modify medications or care plans
  • Reach Out: Contact patient proactively
  • Escalate: Refer to specialists if needed
  • Document: Note observations in medical records

For Family Members

Limited Access

Family members can view non-sensitive health logs only:

  1. Navigate to View Patient Summary
  2. See recent non-sensitive health logs
  3. Monitor general wellbeing
  4. Stay informed about patient's condition

What You Can See

  • Non-sensitive health status
  • General symptoms
  • Emotional wellbeing (if not marked sensitive)
  • Timestamp of logging

What You Cannot See

  • Logs marked sensitive by the patient
  • Full medical context
  • Diagnostic information
  • Treatment details

Supporting Your Loved One

  • Encourage regular logging
  • Respect privacy choices
  • Discuss concerns with patient directly
  • Don't pressure them to share sensitive information

Technical Details

Data Structure

python
HealthLog:
  - logID: Unique identifier
  - patientID: Patient user ID
  - timestamp: ISO 8601 datetime
  - physicalStatus: List or string
  - emotionalStatus: List or string
  - symptoms: Detailed description
  - isSensitive: Boolean flag

API Usage

python
from core.services.health_log_service import HealthLogService

service = HealthLogService(db_service=db)

# Create health log
log = service.create(
    patientID="patient123",
    physicalStatus=["fever", "fatigue"],
    emotionalStatus=["anxious"],
    symptoms="High fever and headache",
    isSensitive=False
)

# Get patient's logs
logs = service.get_by_patient("patient123")

# Get non-sensitive logs (for family)
family_logs = service.get_non_sensitive_by_patient("patient123")

Privacy and Security

Access Control

  • Patients: Full access to own logs
  • Doctors: Full access to all patient logs
  • Nurses: Full access to all patient logs
  • Family: Non-sensitive logs only
  • Admins: Can view all logs for oversight

Audit Trail

All health log access is logged:

  • Who viewed the logs
  • When they were viewed
  • Which patient's logs were accessed

Data Retention

Health logs are retained:

  • While patient account is active
  • For medical record purposes
  • According to regulatory requirements
  • Can be exported by patient

Integration with Other Features

Medical Records

Health logs are automatically linked to:

  • Patient medical records
  • Visible to treating doctors
  • Referenced in appointments
  • Used for diagnosis context

Emergency Calls

Health logs provide context for:

  • Emergency call assessment
  • Symptom history
  • Baseline health status
  • Recent changes in condition

Appointments

Doctors can review health logs:

  • Before appointments
  • During consultation
  • For follow-up planning
  • Treatment effectiveness assessment

Troubleshooting

Health Logs Not Appearing

For Patients:

  • Verify log was submitted successfully
  • Check that you're viewing correct date range
  • Refresh the page

For Family:

  • Check if logs are marked sensitive
  • Verify you're linked to the patient
  • Contact patient about sharing preferences

For Medical Staff:

  • Verify patient ID is correct
  • Check database connectivity
  • Review audit logs for access issues

Cannot Mark as Sensitive

  • Ensure feature is enabled
  • Check user permissions
  • Verify you're the patient (not family viewing)

Best Practices Summary

For Patients

  • Log daily for best results
  • Be specific and detailed
  • Use sensitivity flag appropriately
  • Note changes from previous days
  • Include relevant context

For Medical Staff

  • Review logs before appointments
  • Look for trends, not just individual entries
  • Reach out proactively for concerns
  • Document findings in medical records
  • Respect patient privacy

For Family

  • Check logs regularly
  • Encourage patient to log consistently
  • Respect sensitive information boundaries
  • Discuss concerns with patient
  • Support patient's privacy choices