Mobile Electronic Medical Records

Patients want Personal Health Records

We live in an increasingly mobile society where as Americans we readily crisscross the globe, effortlessly sending information by email, mail or telephone. We share data seamlessly for business or pleasure. Research any topic with a few keystrokes. We store and carry data using IPODs, MP3 players, Cruzers, and Flash Cards. When it comes to health care, our data is virtually unavailable and definitely not portable. Tucked away in our physicians’ offices or stored in the records department at our local hospital. Often patient records are not centralized or complete at any one location.

In the case of emergencies, patients are often times treated without vital information. At such times, the risk of medical error spikes dangerously.

Even though chip-embedded smart cards have not lived up to their promise, a variety of new products is emerging—from USB-enabled key chains containing health records to Web-based solutions. Among the simplest solutions--are portable CD-ROM disks that give patients control of their records. 

According to a recent Web survey, released this week by the IT and Research group Accenture, consumers are willing to pay as much as $60 a year for a personal EMR solution.

Several companies, including FollowMe, RedMedic, MedicAlert and CapMed already let customers manage their medical information online. Most charge approximately $30 a year. Some charge more and provide other services, such as specialized flash drives. Whatever method, patients are demanding access. Expect this push to continue.