It's A Digital Disease!

The original post: /r/datahoarder by /u/BigMickDo on 2024-12-30 15:23:00.

using AI to proof read my post, so pardon the robotic sound.

Subject: Seeking Advice: Organizing Medical Records with Paperless-ngx (No EMR Available)

Introduction

• I'm from Egypt, where Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are not commonly used.
• I'm experiencing chronic health issues and have accumulated a large volume of medical documents over the years.
• These documents are currently disorganized and scattered.
• I'm struggling to find doctors I trust, and each new doctor essentially restarts the diagnostic process, even when I provide history.
• My goal is to take control of my medical records by digitizing and organizing them myself.

My Plan

• I intend to use Paperless-ngx to manage my digital medical records.
• I will use Microsoft Lens to scan paper records, lab results, and imaging reports (CT/MRI). Unfortunately, I don't have access to DICOM files from previous labs.
• I plan to ask doctors for detailed notes after each visit and add them to my digital records.
• Initially, I'll scan all related documents for each specialty into a single PDF (e.g., all eye scans in one file, all ENT documents in another).
• New documents for each specialty will be scanned into separate PDFs.

Challenges and Questions

1. Organization System:
   • I'm looking for a robust organizational system (methodology) within Paperless-ngx to keep my records easily accessible and understandable.
   • Any tips or best practices for tagging, categorizing, or structuring medical documents within Paperless-ngx would be greatly appreciated.
2. Scanning Quality:
   • My phone camera quality isn't ideal, and I have shaky hands, which can affect scan clarity.
   • I'm currently using an overhead lamp positioned opposite me to minimize shadows, but I'm open to better techniques.
   • Any suggestions for improving scan quality with Microsoft Lens or alternative scanning methods are welcome.
   • Consider a phone stand or tripod for stability.
3. Data Extraction and Tracking:
   • Paperless-ngx offers OCR, which is helpful, but I also need a way to track specific data points over time (e.g., eye pressure readings on different dates), would also need notes there for certain data points.
   • Are there any features within Paperless-ngx or complementary tools that can help with this?

Specific to Egypt

• If anyone has experience managing medical records in a similar context (without EMRs), I'd love to hear your insights.

Thank You