Electronic Medical Records

We saw with Hurricane Katrina the importance of having access to health information that could be lost or temporarily unavailable due to circumstances we can't control.

While the U.S. Congress debates the isues involved in making electronic medical records and health care information available, one company has taken the bull by the horns.

Their product allows the patient to create their own health care records and to save them on a USB device known as a flash drive.

This USB device can be carried on a key ring or lanyard around your neck. It can be plugged into any PC and the information easily retrieved.

Most emergency medical responders such as paramedics have access to laptops onboard their rigs. Almost all ambualtory medical facilities such as MD offices, clinics, urgent cares and hospitals have PCs available as well.

The information can be updated by the patient or caregiver just by plugging the USB device into the computer and typing the information into the forms provided on the software.

The forms include space for information such as demographic information, emergency contacts, a list of physicians and other health care providers, a list of allergies, medical conditions and medications the patient is taking including the dose and prescription numbers.

There is a form to list all previous surgeries and significant illnesses. For more information about this device see MedicTag.com