This 28-Year-Old Woman Is Going Viral For Creating A 'Medical Binder' So Doctors Listen To Her, And It’s Genius
If you’re someone who frequents the doctor’s office, chances are you’ve had a negative experience managing your records, getting in touch with providers, or treating your concerns — especially if you’re a woman or person of color.
Jessica Wetz, a 28-year-old content creator and disability advocate from Vancouver, went viral this past year with a solution that has helped her manage negative experiences and wasted time with doctors — and eventually get a genetic diagnosis after 14 years of navigating many physicians and a complex medical history.
In a video that has since amassed over 4.7 million views, Wetz shared how creating a “medical binder” — a comprehensive collection of her medical records, including things like lab tests, X-rays, and reports — helped her advocate for herself, even when doctors dismissed her concerns.
“Medical binders make things faster for doctors. That’s why we use them and why they thank me for them,” Wetz began in her video, responding to a commenter from a previous video who suggested a binder might complicate doctors’ work. She then broke down exactly how her binder works.
“I had a doctor say to me, ‘There’s no way you had straightening of the lumbar curvature at 14.’ You don’t have to believe me. I have the report right here. Let’s read it together,” Wetz gave in a series of examples where she used her binder.
In other scenarios, she described not having to repeat blood tests and ultrasounds for new doctors by having the reports handy. “I had a doctor say to me, ‘OK, Jessica, I’m gonna order you some labs, and then in six weeks, we’ll go over them.’” She replied, “What blood work do you want? He goes, ‘Vitamin D, Vitamin B, Iron.’ Perfect, had it two days ago. I have it right in front of me. We don’t need to wait six weeks. He’s like, ‘Oh, that was easy.’”
Other times, Wetz more blatantly used her binder as proof of her chronic illness when doctors didn’t believe her. “One time [at the] doctor, I said, ‘I have Ehlers-Danlos,’” Wetz said in her video. “He goes, ‘You have Ehlers-Danlos? Like a doctor diagnosed you with that?’ I go, ‘Yup.’ He goes, ‘What’s the doctor’s name?’ You don’t have to believe me, dude. I literally have the report right here; there you go.”
Overall, Wetz said in her video, “The purpose of the binder is to prove to them what other doctors have said because they’re not gonna take my word for it.”
For those who worry that the binder might waste doctors’ time, Wetz emphasized that it’s not meant to be read “front to back.” Instead, it serves as a practical, time-saving tool she can quickly reference to provide doctors with information when needed.
“If I’m trying to talk to you about my knee pain, I’m not reading you my colonoscopy report. That’s not relevant. I’m not reading you my echocardiogram. That’s not relevant,” Wetz said. “OK? Unless you accuse me of never having one and you wanna argue with me.”
“With this book, I can shut down every time a doctor has wanted to sit there for 15 minutes and mansplain some bullshit to me that’s not true,” Wetz said at the end of her video. “So talk about wasting time. This is how I avoid doctors wasting my f**cking time.”
Since sharing her video, thousands have rushed to the comments to share their thoughts, support, and interest in creating their own binders, too.
Several people shared that they already use medical binders, which have helped them secure proper care and avoid incorrect treatments. “Mine saved me from getting an unnecessary pacemaker. The doctor read through everything and said, ‘That would have been really bad,’ and sent me home with a management plan for IST,” one person wrote.
Medical professionals also shared their approval in the comments. “Many doctors have appreciated how this saves time by allowing them to focus on treatment rather than hunting down files,” Wetz told BuzzFeed.
Wetz said her video has also started discussions about the need for universal online record-keeping systems. “In Canada, for example, healthcare is managed provincially, so each province has different systems (or none at all),” Wetz said. She explained in British Columbia, where she lives, doctors often use several different, disconnected apps, which causes problems like doctors being unable to access records, leading to faxed requests or repeated tests.
Wetz shared that doctors’ responses during her appointments have been positive overall. “At my first appointment with the binder, the doctor noted, ‘She is very well organized and has a binder documenting her medical history,’” Wetz told BuzzFeed. “Previously, my records said things like, ‘The patient was unclear and struggled to communicate.’”
Wetz also said her reports shifted from saying things like “patient verbally reports receiving a diagnosis” to “she has a diagnosis” based on the evidence in her binder. “I’m taken seriously now, and doctors are aware that their report will go into my binder next, which results in fewer errors,” she said.
“It also speeds things up,” she continued. Wetz explained that when she was seeking a diagnosis for POTS, she had the necessary tests to quickly rule out other conditions. “By presenting reports from my CT scan, echocardiogram, ECG, Holter monitor, and blood work, I was diagnosed on the spot.”
Joel Bervell, a fourth-year medical student known as the “Medical Mythbuster” on social media for his advocacy on health disparities and equitable care, told BuzzFeed that Jessica’s binder represents a “practical way” for patients to feel empowered, take control, and actively participate in their healthcare.
“Too often, there’s a power imbalance between doctors and patients, and it stems from differences in the amount of information that patients have access to,” Bervell told BuzzFeed. “Jessica’s binder is a tool that can bridge the gap between patients and providers by fostering clearer communication and accountability.”
“Creating a medical binder can be incredibly beneficial. It helps patients keep their information organized, which can be essential in complex cases where medical history, tests, and medications can become overwhelming,” Bervell continued.
“Often, when patients come to the hospital from different institutions, it can be difficult to find all of the records in one place. Medical binders aren’t just helpful for patients, but helpful for providers as well,” he said.
Still, while most feedback about Wetz’s medical binder has been positive, others pointed out that the onus to track records and advocate for their concerns shouldn’t only be on the patient. “We have to become a Dr to get other Drs to listen 😭😭😭😭,” one person wrote.
Similarly, Wetz told BuzzFeed that she had to become an “expert record keeper” with her binder and, in some ways, an “amateur AI med student” to get her concerns taken seriously.
Bervell emphasized that Wetz’s binder underscores significant gaps in how healthcare systems handle follow-up care and patient advocacy. “Patients shouldn’t have to become ‘expert record keepers’ just to receive competent, compassionate care,” he said.
“In a perfect world, the healthcare system would track these details seamlessly, but given current limitations, particularly fragmentation within electronic medical records, it often falls on the patient. This speaks to a need for better integration of patient records, continuity of care, and a more compassionate approach to patient communication.”
Others also pointed out that there may be a stigma attached to bringing a medical binder to appointments. One person said their doctor said their medical binder noted proof that they were “malingering”; another said their doctors would be “too defensive” for the medical binder to work.
Bervell acknowledged that, unfortunately, this stigma is a real possibility. He explained that some healthcare providers might view a binder as a sign of “over-preparedness” or health anxiety. “Patients should be aware that while many providers appreciate well-prepared patients, some might not,” he told BuzzFeed. “A binder could be seen as ‘malingering’ by certain biases in healthcare, which unfortunately still exist.”
Bervell suggested that a practical approach might be to focus on the binder as an objective reference and communicate its purpose. “Focusing on the information that is most useful to doctors (aka pieces of your history that are objective that they may not have access to already, like imaging results, lab values, discharge summaries, etc.) can help forgo this,” he said.
For those looking to make a medical binder themselves, Wetz recommended researching how to access records in your area, as many countries allow patients to request digital or paper copies under certain conditions. She also suggested having a doctor request on your behalf, as you may avoid fees requesting for “medical purposes” rather than “personal use.”
She explained, “I told my doctor I needed all my records for a private consultation abroad, and they provided the form. I made 20 photocopies, filled them out, and they faxed them to every facility I visited. Over time, the envelopes and USB drives rolled in, and I only had to pay around $70. I was shocked there were still records from my birth and childhood as well.”
To organize the binder, Wetz places files relevant to her chronic illness in chronological order and uses plastic sleeves to keep reports and discs together while saving space. Before appointments, she’ll send relevant files to the doctor’s office so they can review or copy them in advance. She also created a digital PDF of her binder so she can digitally search terms for quick access.
“This was obviously tedious and extensive work, which many sick people don’t have the energy for, so please ask for the help of any support you may have,” Wetz told BuzzFeed. “Without it, I don’t think I could have finally gotten the diagnosis and treatments I’ve needed since I was a child.”
Wetz also reminded people that reading medical records can be confusing and upsetting. She told BuzzFeed, “Reports are written in clinical language, expecting the patient won’t read it, which can make them read cold or dehumanizing.”
“You might see inaccurate info between what you remember saying and what’s written or outright lies. Some doctors write their reports immediately, while others might wait a week. There are ways to correct information through official means if you feel it’s inaccurate and affecting your care.”
In general, for those looking to advocate for themselves at the doctor, with or without a binder, Bervell advised: “Patients can advocate for themselves by preparing key questions, summarizing symptoms, and requesting clear action steps at appointments. For providers, listening actively and acknowledging patient concerns, even if they seem minor, is crucial.”
And while the binder can be a helpful tool for improving care, Bervell emphasized it’s not the complete answer to addressing the broader systemic challenges in healthcare. “The binder is one tool that can support these goals, but it’s not the entire solution. Healthcare should be a partnership, and all sides have to work together to make patients feel seen and supported.”
