Research study conducted by Anna Edwards and Fran Linnane
When it comes to your health, what you do not know about your family could hurt you.
A new study conducted this summer by the research team at Catalyst by Wellstar surveyed Wellstar patients about how well they understand and track their family medical history. The results reveal a clear gap between awareness and action.
Most People Talk About Family Health, But Few Keep Records
According to the Catalyst study, 65% of patients said they have talked with a doctor about their family’s medical history, and 57% have discussed it with relatives. Yet only 16% feel they have a complete and accurate record.
That means many people think they know their family’s health story, but the details are often missing.
“It’s important to know your family medical history because many medical diseases and problems stem from genetics, things like cancers, diabetes, or hypertension,” explains Dr. Georgia Forrest, Family Physician and Associate Chief Medical Information Officer at Wellstar Health System.
“Knowing your history helps us predict, prevent, and personalize your care.”
The study also found that while 80% of patients understand how family history affects their health, only 36% have actually taken steps to document it.
What Patients Know, and What They Don’t
Dr. Forrest says patients usually remember the big picture, but not the small details that matter most for prevention and treatment.
“Most people know the big things, ‘Grandma had cancer,’ or ‘Dad takes blood pressure meds,’” says Dr. Forrest. “But they don’t know the age of diagnosis, what kind of cancer it was, or whether treatment worked. Those details can make a real difference in how we assess risk.”
Without those details, healthcare providers often have to fill in the blanks, which can make it harder to catch certain conditions early.
How Patients Track Family History, and Why It’s Hard
The study found that 43% of patients rely on memory to keep track of family medical history, while a smaller number use digital tools like MyChart or other patient portals.
The biggest barriers include lost or incomplete records, the passing of older relatives, and family members who live far apart.
Dr. Forrest says keeping track does not have to be complicated or time-consuming.
“I wouldn’t add extra stress like keeping a binder,” she says. “What we used to do as human beings is storytelling. Just make sure the story is passed down from generation to generation.”
That storytelling, she adds, is often how families preserve the knowledge that might one day save a life.
Filling the Gaps When You Don’t Have the Full Story
For some patients, like those who are adopted or separated from relatives, collecting family history can be more challenging. But Dr. Forrest says there are still options.
“For patients who are adopted or don’t know their family background, I recommend genetic testing services,” she says. “They can reveal some conditions that tend to run in your DNA.”
Even small pieces of information, such as the age and cause of death of close relatives, can help doctors identify risk patterns for conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Who Should Be Responsible for Tracking It?
Nearly half of the patients in the Catalyst study said individuals should pay for tools that help collect and track family medical history. However, most believe health systems and insurers should share the cost.
Researchers say that finding reflects how patients see prevention: as a shared responsibility between individuals, families, and the healthcare system.
The Bottom Line: Start the Conversation
Dr. Forrest says the most important step patients can take is to start asking questions, and not to wait until it is too late.
“Be inquisitive, ask your family questions while you can,” she says. “If you’ve heard stories about relatives who got sick, dig deeper. We as providers should help patients know which questions to ask, like has anyone had blood clots, thyroid disease, or miscarriages? Those details connect the dots across generations.”
The study found that patients are eager to understand their health risks, but they need better, simpler ways to do it.
Until those tools catch up, Dr. Forrest says, the best thing anyone can do is to keep talking.
“Being inquisitive isn’t just curiosity, it’s care,” she says. “The more we know about our families, the better we can protect our future.”
Knowing your family medical history does not just inform your doctor, it empowers you.
Start small, ask questions, write down what you learn, and share it with your care team.
Every story you preserve today could help prevent illness tomorrow.
