Many people like City of Fairfax (VA) resident Susan Thompson have complicated medical histories and keeping track of that history can be hard, especially in a time of distress.
A new technology allows Susan to carry her medical history, complete with a list of her latest medications on a small key fob and a card right next to her driver’s license. The system is called “invisible bracelet.”
Invisible bracelet is an electronic health registry that allows the end user to keep their own information up to date and allows EMS providers an easy way to access that information in the field, says Alex Fitch EMS Lieutenant for the City of Fairfax Fire Department.
The City of Fairfax has started this new program and describes it as a win-win situation for both the patient and EMS personnel.
In a medical emergency, trauma, or accident, victims may be dazed and confused, or unconscious. But the database can tell first-responders all they need to know, including how to reach a family member.
Lt. Fitch says, “When we arrive we take that pin number enter it in to a secure website that will then show us everything they have inputted.”
The virtual bracelets are for any age and signing up is simple. There is an online program where you add your medications, medical conditions and emergency contacts.
“It also has a nice added benefit that allows us to click on a button that will contact emergency contacts that they have predefined either via email or text enable device and we will tell them which destination facility we are going to, Lt. Fitch tells us.
And for 68-year-old Susan having virtual emergency back up offers freedom, “I don’t stay at home because I do have a lot of medical conditions and I have learned if you want to do things you have to do things.”
Only the City of Fairfax in our area has launched the invisible bracelet program, they want to expand it in Fairfax County and through the region.
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- Courage for Kyle. Get your bracelet. Here’s an update from Barnegat, New Jersey. – January 29, 2012
- Charlie LeDuff on the case of Detroit’s interim fire commissioner. When will they learn? – March 17, 2011
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Wow!!! That is so awesome!!! I love EMS!!!! I’m so glad that someone came up with this!!! I can’t wait until DC gets them!!!
In all honesty, this is a great idea, just wondering how much of a cost issue this would be to implement into other jurisdictions though. My question is though if they have a DNR, would there be a way to honor the DNR through this system?
More importantly, how much does it cost the “customer” as I can’t imagine this service is free. If it is free, kudos for that and I hope it catches on… Next thing you know people will be lining up to have a miniature RFID tag implanted behind their ear or somewhere, and there will be a reader on every first line rig that you can scan the patient Star-Trek style!
We have been able to put an implant into dogs for years and then scan it. Seems like the testing phase is over.
Someone will bitch about it as a civil liberties invasion though if your STD record is on it. Imagine scanning the guys around the table at the morning coffee meeting.
I looked at their website, the cost to the patient is $10.00 and the agency cost appears to be free, minus any hardware or airtime charges, but most departments have the infrastructure already. I think it is a great option for people, more accessible than the vials of life many people already have in their homes. My biggest concern is the information being out of date. My experience is once the information is added to a database; it is not often updated as often as it should. That being said, it should be a useful tool and a help to EMS crews and hospitals, especially in patients that have an altered mental status or are unresponsive.
It’s about damn time! CVS has had my information on file for almost 10 years, and I hate that store. Yes, keeping information up to date is the most critical, but it’s a step in the right direction that both EMS and the patients entire healthcare network will need to stay up to date on. It’s also nice that it’ll free up a lot of the redundant work of asking the patient history both when the engine arrives, the ALS unit arrives, and the patient is transferred to the ER. It also relieves the extra set of hands browsing around the kitchen for every pill bottle hidden around the kitchen.