Quick Easy Access to Medical Information in an Emergency

Saves critical time making a major difference in treatment

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Feb 28, 2011, 08:15 ET

LAWRENCE, Mass., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical professionals working with the elderly see the need to help people be prepared for emergencies, especially for those times when the elderly can't speak for themselves or provide accurate personal information during a crisis situation.

This was something that the designer of the Emergency Medical Info Pack/Kit, Harlyene Goss, a medical technologist and in her late 50's, had never thought about for herself or her parents - until about a month after her mother's open heart surgery and her father called in a panic.

"Harlyene, if something happens to your mother, I don't know anything. I don't know where she keeps anything or where to even look. Your mother is the keeper of the information. What should I do?"

Her father knew having this information ready for an emergency would save critical time and would make a major difference in her mother's treatment. In addition to the recent surgery, with wounds still healing, her mother is a diabetic and now has a pacemaker; these factors would contribute to how EMS and the emergency room would treat her.

Researching online, Harlyene could not find any tools that fit her criteria, which were very simple:

Easy to Find
Easy to Understand and Use
Able to keep all information in one location
Keep sensitive information private

Her response to meet these requirements was to develop the Emergency Medical Info (EMI) Packs and Kits. The EMI Kit puts all the important current and past medical information in one location. Included is a comprehensive medical form that covers:

Emergency contact information
Your doctors' contact information
Your insurance information
Your medications
Your current medical conditions, including allergies
Your medical history summary

This form goes in a separate front pocket of the EMI Kit/Pack, giving quick easy access to medical information. The support documents go in the back reclosable pocket. These support documents should include a recent photo along with copies of:

Both sides of all insurance cards
Recent EKG and or lab results
Your Advance Directive (living will)
Healthcare Proxy (durable power of attorney)
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate (Allow Natural Death)
Organ donor card

The EMI Kit/Pack was reviewed by Emergency Medical personnel, emergency room doctors and patient registration supervisors. These were their comments:

"The EMI Kit can provide extremely valuable information to First Responders in an emergency. Easily recognizable and full of valuable information, this kit could make a significant difference when a person has to call 911 for themselves or a loved one," said Grant T., EMS Coordinator.

Chris G., patient registration supervisor, commented, "We would like our patients to have the EMI Pack. This would save us from having to ask so many questions. Most importantly, it would be easier for the family; they won't worry that they missed an important piece of information."

As important as these comments were to Harlyene, the most important one came from her mother. She said, "This will make everyone's life easier. Your father won't worry and I know everything will be taken care of the way I want. You really did well." The relief Harlyene felt was great because as her parents' healthcare advocate, it also makes her life easier, since she lives 1500 miles away.

In speaking with geriatric care managers and other medical professionals, Harlyene learned that her parents' situation is very common, with over 58% of emergency calls are for seniors.

There is a real need for the Emergency Medical Info (EMI) Packs/Kits. Whether you offer the EMI Kit/Pack as a value added service, as a new service or refer people to our website, http://www.eastemergencymedicalcard.com, you will be empowering people to help themselves in an emergency.

The EMI Kits/Packs are manufactured by HD Merrimack, here in the United States. HD Merrimack also manufactures Easy Minder Reusable Medication Charts and Glucose logs.