Child health record

The health record is a document that gathers all the events that concern the health of the child since birth.

He approaches in particular the following topics:

• Family history
• Childbirth
• Examination of the child at birth (examples: weight, height, head circumference)
• Examination within 8 days after birth at the maternity ward (example: resting heart rate)
• Detailed medical examinations
• Vaccinations
• Dental monitoring.

The notebook also gives many tips to parents in particular on the following topics:

• Child welfare
• Conditions of a healthy environment (good use of screens, education without violence, good sleep...)
• Diet (example: food introduction guidelines for children aged 0 to 3 years)
• Protection against infectious diseases.

It allows health professionals to know all the information related to the health of the child.

This is why this booklet must be presented at each consultation.

Thus, the professional can read the information it contains and put his findings and indications.

It is issued by the maternity ward.

In addition, it can be requested from the departmental maternal and child protection service (PMI) when it has - for example - been lost.

Yes. It is issued free of charge.

It shall be delivered:

• To the parents
• Or persons who are responsible for the exercise of parental authority
• Or to the services in charge of the child.

The health record is kept by the parents or the person or services responsible for the child.

If this notebook is entrusted to another person (example: to the child who goes on holiday without his parents), it must be put in a closed envelope and write " medical secret ” on the envelope.

Consultation of a child's health record is subject to the consent of the parents. No one can demand the release of this booklet.

Any health professional who, by virtue of his function, is called upon to take cognizance of the information contained therein shall be subject to the professional secrecy.

The professional who enters information in the health record is identified by his stamp and his signature.

The personal data entered in it is confidential.

If the health record is lost, a new record can be requested from the departmental maternal and child protection service (PMI) of the child's home.

The new health record should be given to the doctor who usually follows the child to complete the missing data (e.g. vaccinations) from his or her own record.

It is also advisable to record the vaccinations of the child in the electronic vaccination record of My health area (shared medical file).

This notebook represents the memory of the health status of the person since birth.

So you have to keep it for life and be able to present it to the healthcare professional if he/she so requests. This healthcare professional collects important data and records it in the medical record.