2009 was a big year for citizen education about healthcare, and there’s a great article found today on Health Leaders Media that charts 10 Phrases That Became Part of the Healthcare Lexicon in 2009.  Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) made the list:

3. Electronic Medical Records (EMR) versus Electronic Health Records (EHR). These acronyms were around before 2009, but more Americans are now aware of the technology. EMR and EHR are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not the same thing, although further refinements of their definitions are ongoing. EMR is the electronic replacement of a paper chart and the record of a patient’s history and care generated by one particular provider. An EHR, meanwhile, is a complete, long-term computerized electronic record of a patient’s care culled from any and all provider settings.

The EHR connects multiple providers, such as hospitals and clinicians, laboratories, and prescription and/or pharmacy histories, test results, and care notes collected by any provider throughout time for one particular patient.

Perhaps this list of 10 should be lengthened to 11?  Notably missing was the phrase “personal health record“, or PHR, which we think is as important as any of the others listed.  Creating a PHR allows individuals to take charge of their medical records, and creating a portable PHR with a technology like 911 Medical ID allows that data to be used not only in the doctor’s office for scheduled visits but also in the event of an emergency, when you can’t relay health information on your own.

 
A new article from HealthDay (found on MSN) details two new studies related to electronic medical records (EMR).  In both cases, doctors were polled, and in both cases the majority believed that EMRs would save money and time while improving patient care.
 

One study of more than 1,000 family practice and specialist doctors in Massachusetts found that 86 percent believed electronic health information exchange (HIE) would improve patient quality of care, 70 percent thought it would reduce costs and 76 percent said it would save time.

However, 16 percent said they were “very concerned” about possible privacy breaches, while a further 55 percent were “somewhat concerned.” The study also found that none of the doctors wanted to pay the suggested $150 monthly fee for HIE and about half said they weren’t willing to pay any fee.

The second study, which included 56 psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses and therapists at an academic medical center, found that most believed electronic health records were clearer and more complete than paper records, but not necessarily more factual.

MEMI Tech supports the push toward EMRs, and is constantly working toward full integration of 911 Medical ID with EMR software systems.  Privacy issues are always a concern when it comes to new technology, but with proper safeguards EMRs can be more secure than paper records.

If the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is any indication, “mobile” will be the buzz in health technology.  A post today on SmartPlanet.com from Dana Blankenhorn (who also writes for ZDNet Healthcare) gives a rundown of all of the new mobile healthcare devices to be shown at CES 2010, including bluetooth enabled blood pressure and weight monitors.

Read more on SmartPlanet by clicking here.

We agree with this idea, and point to the ultimate in portable Personal Health Record (PHR) systems, the 911 Medical ID.

There’s a great blog post over at the KevinMD.com Medical Blog, talking about a new study of the effectiveness of electronic medical records.  It says that according to a study of 3,000 hospitals, the switch to electronic medical records is not showing any improvement in patient care.  However, according to KevinMD, the reason for it is that doctor’s offices are using outdated methods of transferring paper to the computers, and outdated systems in general:

Very few physicians use electronic record systems effectively. For instance, many are simply scanning paper records into a computer, which provides minimal benefit. It’s difficult to track quality improvement data doing that. The problem is further compounded by the archaic interfaces that the current generation of EMRs have, which is akin to a user interface circa Windows 95.

It’s no wonder that most doctors find electronic medical systems actually slows them down. The next generation of systems needs to focus on facilitating the doctor-patient encounter, rather than being an impediment.

The continued use of PHRs, particularly a portable and easy to use system like 911 Medical ID is surely part of the solution.

The following news release was issued on December 8, 2009:

New Portable Personal Health Record (PHR) Card is a Life Saving Last Minute Holiday Gift
911 Medical ID™ Stores All of Your Important Health Information Securely in Your Wallet

(Louisville, Kentucky) – Holiday shoppers looking for that perfect last minute holiday gift have a new option this year that could literally save the recipient’s life. The new 911 Medical ID™ card provides the security of personal medical information that can be carried as easily as a credit card, and is a great present for travelers, seniors, caregivers, parents, students, the chronically ill, and many others.

If you’re severely injured in an accident, suffering from a severe allergic reaction, or impaired due to a medical emergency such as a stroke, heart attack or seizure, you can’t possibly speak for yourself. The new 911 Medical ID™ was created to relay your important health information to first responders, emergency room doctors, or other medical personnel.

Approximately two millimeters thick, the 911 Medical ID™ is the world’s thinnest USB medical information storage device, fitting in your wallet as easily as a credit card. This new Portable Personal Health Record (PHR) provides a simple way to store and carry important medical information such as health history, allergies, and prescriptions, in a format that is easy for medical personnel to access. The information carried on the card will reduce misdiagnoses, save valuable time, and even help cut the cost of medical care as the healthcare industry moves more toward electronic records.

911 Medical ID™ has been in development for three years by MEMI Tech, LLC in Louisville, Kentucky. It can be purchased for $39.99 from http://www.911medicalid.com.

“The 911 Medical ID™ card would be a perfect gift for anyone, “ said MEMI Tech CEO Mark Weiss. “It is an easy way to create a Portable Personal Health Record (PHR) that gives you the ability to better control your medical information, and can save your life in an emergency.”

When inserted into a computer’s USB port, software on the 911 Medical ID™ card launches immediately, and walks the user through the steps to enter information such as emergency contacts, doctors, medical conditions, prescriptions, a living will, medical tests, and family history. The card’s two-gigabyte capacity allows you to safely store documents in the secure password-protected area of the card. Additionally, each cardholder has the option of storing the medical records of up to ten family members. Information on the card is also automatically uploaded to a password-protected HIPAA compliant website, providing a web-based option.

An additional feature that makes 911 Medical ID™ card unique is the “Forever Benefit”. As electronic medical records evolve, MEMI Tech is constantly improving the software for the card. When an upgrade is available, the card is automatically updated. This means a card purchased today will always be up-to-date.

About MEMI Tech
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, MEMI Tech, LLC is the developer of the world’s thinnest, patent-protected, USB device, the 911 Medical ID™ Card. This unique, convenient credit card-sized USB storage device fits easily into your purse or wallet, and is designed to hold personal medical information to be used in the case of emergency. For more information on MEMI Tech and the 911 Medical ID™ Card, please visit http://www.911medicalid.com.

###

Media contact information:
Steve Mullen
(804) 372-7677
steve-at-endgamepr-dot-com

The following news release was issued on November 6, 2009:

New USB Medical Health Information Card Aims to Save Lives, Time and Money
911 Medical ID™ Stores All of Your Important Health Information Securely in Your Wallet

(LOUISVILLE, KY) — If you’re severely injured in an accident, stricken by an allergic reaction, or impaired by a stroke, heart attack or seizure, how can you possibly relay important medical information to first responders? Have you ever wished you could avoid carrying stacks of health records and lists of prescriptions with you to your doctor’s office, only to have to copy that information by hand onto form after form? With a goal of saving lives and making doctor trips easier, Louisville, Kentucky-based MEMI Tech, LLC is announcing the availability of the new 911 Medical ID™, the world’s thinnest USB medical information storage device.

Approximately two millimeters thick, 911 Medical ID™ fits in your wallet as easily as a credit card. It provides a simple way to store and carry important medical information, such as health history, allergies, and prescriptions, in a format that is easy for medical personnel to access. The card has been in development for three years, and the information it carries will reduce misdiagnoses, save valuable time, and even help cut the cost of medical care as we move more toward electronic records.

“The 911 Medical ID™ card has the potential to revolutionize the portable personal health record industry by giving consumers the power to better control and utilize their health information,” said MEMI Tech CEO Mark Weiss. “The first place emergency medical professionals look for information on a patient is in his or her wallet, and stickers we provide will point them toward the 911 Medical ID™ card. Parents, seniors, caregivers, travelers, athletes, the chronically ill, and students all have an immediate need for portable health information storage.”

When inserted into a computer’s USB port, pre-loaded software on the 911 Medical ID™ card launches immediately, and walks the user through the steps to enter information such as emergency contacts, doctors, medical conditions, prescriptions, a living will, medical tests, and family history. The card’s one or two-gigabyte capacity and password-protected storage allow the user to store other necessary documents as well. Additionally, each cardholder has the option of storing the medical records of up to ten family members right on your card. Information on the card can also be automatically backed up to a secure password-protected website at no charge.

“Every time you go to a doctor, you are asked questions to update their records, and a visit to a new doctor can take forever because of the stack of forms that need to be filled out,” said Weiss. “This card not only provides the piece of mind that your health information is available in the case of an emergency, it can also save time. Just give the doctor’s staff the 911 Medical ID™ card, and tell them that all of your information is available inside.”

An additional feature that makes 911 Medical ID™ card unique is the “Forever Benefit”. As electronic medical records evolve, MEMI Tech is constantly improving the software for the card. When an upgrade is available, the card is automatically updated. This means a card purchased today will always be up-to-date.

About MEMI Tech
Based in Louisville, Kentucky, MEMI Tech, LLC is the developer of the world’s thinnest, patent-protected, USB device, the 911 Medical ID™ Card. This unique, convenient credit card-sized USB storage device fits easily into your purse or wallet, and is designed to hold personal medical information to be used in the case of emergency. For more information on MEMI Tech and the 911 Medical ID™ Card, please visit http://www.911medicalid.com.

###

Media contact information:
Steve Mullen
(804) 372-7677
steve-at-endgamepr-dot-com

Thanks for visiting our new blog!  Please check back to learn more about the 911 Family of Products, which will be growing soon.  You’ll also find information here about healthcare, personal health records, electronic medical records, and other health care reform topics.  If you’re not familiar with the new 911 Medical ID, we invite you to check out the main 911 Medical ID site.  Please bookmark this site, subscribe to the RSS feed, or simply check back with us!