SANTA CLARA, Calif., Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- REDmedic, Inc., a leading provider of online personal health information services, announced today the availability of its nationwide consumer-to-caregiver service. REDmedic allows consumers to securely store personal medical and emergency contact information online and make it available to medical personnel during emergency and non-urgent situations. Included in the service is an emergency medical card for each REDmedic member, containing instructions for medical personnel to access a patient’s personal medical information in case they are incoherent or unconscious. Consumers’ medical profiles are accessible to health care providers via the Internet or a national call center that is available 24 hours a day.
“REDmedic is a giant leap forward in the advancement of health information technology,” said Dr. Andrew Newman, Chairman of Stanford University’s Health Information Management Committee. “Until a national health infrastructure is complete, the REDmedic service is capable of delivering online personal medical information to any doctor, any hospital, at anytime within the U.S. As a doctor, I know first hand the challenges emergency health care providers face when treating a patient that has no medical history available. REDmedic’s service will provide medical personnel the critical medical information they need to pursue the best course of treatment.”
REDmedic’s online health care information service was developed in part to address the more than 114,000,000 visits to emergency rooms in the U.S.(1); 15% of patients who are hospitalized because prior medical information is not available(2); and an estimated 195,000 deaths annually due to medical errors(3). By signing up through the secure, self-service REDmedic Web site, customers can collect, manage, store, and access information about their medications, allergies, immunizations, conditions, emergency contacts, insurance providers, and physicians. In early 2005, REDmedic will offer access to advance directives, EKG’s, and other essential medical documents.
“It’s alarming to think that most people do not have their vital medical information readily available, especially in emergencies,” said Morey Schapira, CEO of REDmedic.” The REDmedic service immediately helps consumers and healthcare providers dramatically improve the treatment and care of patients, reduce medical errors, and lower overall healthcare administrative costs. While we support the U.S. government’s efforts on the development of a national infrastructure to place Americans’ medical records online over the next decade, REDmedic is available today with an easy, secure and cost-effective way for consumers to provide their personal medical and contact information in writing to healthcare providers without requiring any new technology or infrastructure in the hospitals.”
REDmedic is also ideal for common, non-urgent situations by providing fast, easy access to pertinent medical information when switching doctors, changing medical plans, or selecting new insurers. When a medical profile is needed prior to routine medical procedures, or when a variety of repetitious medical forms are required for school or other activities, REDmedic makes life easier and less complicated for its members.
REDmedic Supports Directives by ONCHIT
In July 2004, Dr. David J. Brailer, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, provided a report, titled “The Decade of Health Information Technology: Delivering Consumer-centric and Information-Rich Health Care,” which outlined several goals to make online medical records a reality. The REDmedic service supports these goals in three ways: providing an online service that allows consumers more access and involvement in managing their personal health; delivering an application service provider solution within the healthcare network giving medical personnel immediate access to a patient’s critical health care information during treatment; and ensuring consumers always have their medical information available anytime and anywhere. Since the REDmedic service incorporates these goals and other guidelines established by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONCHIT) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, it overcomes the challenges that prevented the national adoption of previous online medical services several years ago.
The ONCHIT was established in April 2004 by a directive from President George W. Bush to support efforts within the government and the private sector to develop the standards and infrastructure to allow more effective use of information technology to promote higher quality care and reduce health care costs. More information about the ONCHIT may be found at the following Web site, http://www.hhs.gov/ .
Securing Personal Medical and Contact Information
REDmedic enforces the high level of security suggested by HIPAA when storing its customer’s personal medical and contact information. Access is password protected and communicated over an SSL connection. Information is protected with internal security technology {patent pending} to ensure only authorized users are accessing the medical data. Customer’s critical medical and contact information is stored in REDmedic’s secure databases, which are located only within the United States. Additionally, information used for identity theft, such as Social Security and driver’s license numbers, are not required or stored in the REDmedic system.
How it Works
REDmedic members securely update their personal medical information online anytime. Members receive a membership card, key fob and stickers which instruct medical personnel how to quickly access their health summaries. Healthcare providers are authenticated and given secure access to a patient’s medical summary via the Internet or call/fax center located in New York. Members also receive convenient periodic reminders to update their records and can allow their physician to review and check their information.
Pricing and Availability
REDmedic’s online personal health information service is available nationwide beginning Monday, October 4, 2004. Pricing for individual consumers starts at less than $3.00 per month. Inquiries concerning pricing for business accounts and enterprise solutions for health care providers may contact REDmedic at 866-733-9222 or http://www.redmedic.com/ .
About REDmedic
REDmedic, a leading provider of online personal health information services, offers members an easy and secure method of collecting, managing, storing, and accessing vital personal health and emergency contact information. REDmedic significantly reduces the cost and risk to healthcare providers and insurance companies -- while providing peace-of-mind to individuals and their families. REDmedic services help ensure better treatment and protection against potential medical errors in both emergency and non-urgent situations. REDmedic was founded in 2003, is privately held and located in Santa Clara, California. Please visit http://www.redmedic.com/ .
(1) American College Of Emergency Physicians (2) US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002 (3) Health Grades, July 2004
REDmedic, Inc.
CONTACT: David Splivalo of Dovetail Public Relations, +1-408-395-3600,or david@dovetailpr.com, for REDmedic, Inc.
Web site: http://www.redmedic.com/
