Organizing Yourself for Work

After a Cancer Diagnosis

Starting The Organization Process After settling into your treatment regiment, you may feel well enough to return to work. Cancer and its therapy can't be confined to work hours. Because of this, You'll want to do everything you can to make the transition from work to treatment as easy as possible. You will do well if you adhere to these guidelines. Set up Your Paperwork It can be daunting to navigate the paperwork — claims, paying taxes, and keeping track of your own thoughts, to name a few examples. It's simpler if you have strong organizational skills at home as well as at work. It's also a good idea to have a portable set of files that you can take with you between work and appointments. Make a list of everything you'll carry, such as x-rays and other belongings like: • Notebook • Smart device • Post-Its • Writing utensils • Reading material • Payment methods • Calendar/daily planner Your paperwork itself would, in addition to your health insurance card, consist of the following: • Several physical and digital copies of your insurance card • Claim forms • Personal ID • Copies of medical records • Medical history • Personal questions • Insurance provider's information • Active health insurance forms • Insurance claim history • Payout statements • Research on your specific condition • Life insurance policy • Doctors' notes from past visits Going Paperless It's something you'll have to do whether you work at home or in an office. You might be able to minimize clutter by keeping electronic files available on your laptop or smartphone while transporting paperwork. The faster your access to information, the easier it is to commute between work and medical appointments. Adding many of today's lightweight laptops to your tote bag isn't difficult. Scanning hard copies of papers - different insurance policies, medical reports, and so on - and keeping an electronic copy on your laptop may make important information easier to gather and access. Your cell phone or tablet might be a fantastic tool for keeping your information with you at work and on the move. Patient interaction aids can be used to keep track of appointments, conduct research, or provide entertainment for the waiting room (e.g., books, music, podcasts). Many programs allow you to save papers (usually in PDF or Microsoft Word format) as described above. There are also programs that may be beneficial to cancer patients, those with chronic illnesses, and anybody else who needs to keep track of their medical records. Simplified charts and graphs are used to organize your medical data, track appointments, give explanations for technical terms and procedures, and more. Remember, the goal is to have all of your information handy so that you don't waste time at work looking for paperwork before every appointment.