DGLInfo: Online Medical Registry Publishes Medical Records

Online Medical Registry
Website for patient medical records

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Online Medical Registry Publishes Medical Records
by Dave Murphy
ISSN 1535-3613

Two doctors from New York have launched an online medical registry service that they say will improve health care and save lives but critics say can actually harm someone instead.

The Medical Registry stores personal medical dossiers on its website. Medical professionals can access this information in an emergency or during any incident that occurs while the patient is travelling away from home. "A lot of valuable time is wasted asking how old you are, are you allergic to any medications, or are you diabetic," said Dr. Murray Friedman, chief executive officer of Integrated Medical Technologies, which created the service. The time saved could save your life in an emergency, he says.

Doctors could refer directly to the website to review the patient's complete medical history, including x-ray, EKG, and MRI results.

The Medical Registry charges a $100 annual fee to store a patient's medical information. Individuals may update their records as new information becomes available.

Users of The Medical Registry receive a medic alert bracelet and a wallet card that refers medical professionals to the website or a fax-back system. Doctors enter your password (found on the card or bracelet) and submit their unique "Drug Enforcement Act" number. This prevents non-professionals from accessing your information should they steal your card.

However, critics of the online registry claim that any database of medical secrets could be cracked. And some charge that subscribers may not include potentially-embarrassing medical details. The lack of information during a medical emergency can be serious. Many patients have allergic reactions to common drugs, without this information, an ER doctor could cause more harm than good.

The Medical Edge website is www.medicaledge.com.

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updated December 3, 1998
http://dgl.com/dglinfo/1998/dg981203.html