TURLOCK, Calif., Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MedicAlert Foundation, the nation’s leading emergency medical information service, provided critical medical information to physicians and pharmacists to those members displaced by Hurricane Katrina. In this time of need, MedicAlert has waived any membership renewals this year for anyone affected by last month’s hurricane, and for those members who need an emblem or membership card replaced, they can call MedicAlert to have a basic emblem replaced at no charge.
With paper medical records of thousands of Gulf Coast evacuees destroyed by the hurricane, the MedicAlert 24-hour emergency response center responded to emergency calls from shelters to provide medical information to physicians and pharmacists who were assisting MedicAlert members. The importance of having up-to-date medical information in the wake of this disaster has never had greater magnitude.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. If there was ever a time when having electronic medical records were important, this is it,” said Paul Kortschak, President and CEO of MedicAlert. “Our focus is to provide a safe and secure place to store our members’ electronic medical records, such as allergies, medications, implanted device details and advance directives. We are committed to their safety.”
MedicAlert IDs alert emergency personnel to a member’s primary health conditions. In addition, the MedicAlert service can also provide family notification so a member can be reunited with their family and loved ones. Instant access to critical medical information helps emergency responders and physicians provide faster and safer treatment, save costs and more importantly, prevent potential medical errors.
MedicAlert members, who were affected by the hurricane and want to access their electronic health record or order a free replacement basic emblem, may call the 24-hour toll-free line, 1-800-925-3783.
About MedicAlert
The MedicAlert Foundation is a non-profit healthcare informatics organization dedicated to providing services to our members that protect and save lives. MedicAlert(R) services are built around a repository of health information that enables members to manage their personal health records while maintaining security, privacy and confidentiality. As the trusted third party custodian of comprehensive personal health information, the MedicAlert(R) repository can connect to and provide critical medical information between patients, providers, payers, and first responders 24 hours a day anywhere in the world. The premium we place on patient confidentiality has earned the trust of 4 million members and the healthcare community worldwide.
MedicAlert(R) is committed to providing technology-based solutions and is an active member and a leader in developing interoperability standards with all the major Healthcare IT standards organizations. The MedicAlert(R) repository uses Web service interfaces to support standard Electronic Health Records (EHRs), including electronic drug prescriptions and for patient record interoperability. These activities will ensure the rapid development and deployment of standards to improve the quality of care, lower healthcare costs while increasing patient safety.
MedicAlert(R) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1956 with a mission to protect and save lives, is headquartered in the United States and has international affiliates in nine countries. Additional information about MedicAlert(R) is available at www.medicalert.org.
MedicAlert Foundation
CONTACT: Ramesh Srinivasan of MedicAlert Foundation, +1-209-669-2407
Web site: http://www.medicalert.org/
