MedicAlert Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Form Partnership to Raise Awareness and Identify Mental Illness

CHICAGO, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MedicAlert Foundation and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) launched their joint effort today at the 2011 NAMI national convention to provide emergency medical information and identification services to the mental health community. In an effort to encourage safety and peace of mind, NAMI will publicize MedicAlert's live 24/7 emergency response/family notification services and Emergency Medical Information Record (EMIR) to its members.

"A partnership with MedicAlert fuels NAMI's vision of raising awareness and support for those with mental illness," said Michael J. Fitzpatrick, Executive Director of NAMI. "With a MedicAlert ID, physicians and first responders in medical emergencies, including law enforcement, will be able to recognize the needs of individuals living with mental illness and treat them appropriately. This strategic alliance will also help reduce responses based on misperceptions and stigma surrounding mental illness."

NAMI members who enroll in the MedicAlert program will receive comprehensive services that assist in safeguarding and identifying them in an emergency. Members enrolled in the program will receive a personalized MedicAlert medical ID and an emergency wallet card that includes the MedicAlert live 24/7 emergency response service center. All calls to the live 24/7 emergency response center are answered by specially trained staff who provide first responders with identification information, emergency contact information and details on medical conditions, including mental illness, medications including dosages, and allergies.

"We are extremely pleased to be working with NAMI to further our shared mission of helping people in times of need" said Andrew B. Wigglesworth, President & CEO of MedicAlert Foundation. "For over 50 years, the MedicAlert Foundation has been providing vital health information on behalf of our members in all types of emergencies. Through this partnership with NAMI, our objective is to help ensure individuals living with mental illness and their families receive the care that is right for them in their communities and that first responders have the necessary information in an emergency to effectively address their needs."

Visit www.medicalert.org/nami for more information.

About MedicAlert Foundation

Established in 1956, MedicAlert Foundation pioneered the use of medical IDs and systems to relay vital medical information to emergency responders on behalf of its members so they receive faster and safer treatment. Today, MedicAlert provides the functionality of an e‐health information exchange through an innovative combination of a unique patient identifier linked to an emergency medical information record and a live 24/7 emergency response service. MedicAlert medical IDs alert emergency personnel to a member's primary health conditions, medications, and/or implanted medical devices. In addition to its live 24/7 emergency response service, MedicAlert Foundation also provides family and caregiver notification so that members can be reunited with their loved ones. MedicAlert services are available around the world through a network of international nonprofit affiliated organizations licensed by the Foundation. Learn more at www.medicalert.org.

About NAMI

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those in need.

SOURCE MedicAlert Foundation