Remember that we should be taking a Big Picture Approach to some of these things.

For example, a PCP or specialist may very correctly say, from his/her perspective, that for a patient's history and progress, X months between visits is satisfactory -- However, if I am nervous or paranoid enuf that it is affecting my life, either more visits or some anti-anxiety medicine is in order. Nobody has clear studies, I'm sure, but if a cheerful attitude is supposed to be good for your health, an anxious attitude isn't good.

I consider myself fortunate -- Because I travel so much and a fixed address HMO was not practical, I have a PPO where I pay a deductible and then 20% of whatever's left -- However, altho I get discounts for using the preferred providers, I can see whomever I want as often as they will see me -- There's no administrator standing there with a calculator saying "we see no need for more than 3.6 visits per occurance" or things of that nature. I'm also fortunate because my ENT clearly recognizes anxiety and does his best to deal with it rather than ignore it.

Regarding storage of medical records, keep in mind that as technologies change, we have to change also and the tech has to be good for home as well as for the Doc's office.

A relatively simple solution might just be to get an external 80G hard drive and plug it into a USB port. Copies of whatever can be burnt to CD or DVD and kept in safe deposit or at a relative's house.

Pete