| We all dread the day that we may land in a | | | | What information would one expect from such a |
| helpless situation. Envisage a medical emergency | | | | service? |
| subscription service that allows members to | | | | - The attending medic would to be provided with |
| record and maintain their critical medical | | | | all the relevant information required in order to |
| information on a secure central database for | | | | treat the patient effectively |
| retrieval, via SMS, on any mobile phone in the | | | | - Medical scheme details would be provided in |
| event of a medical emergency. | | | | order to ensure appropriate hospitalization and |
| What would the building blocks of such a service | | | | treatment |
| be? | | | | - The name of the member's GP and contact |
| - The service would be developed in conjunction | | | | details would be provided should further medical |
| with the relevant local government EMS | | | | information be required about the patient |
| (Emergency Medical Services) department | | | | - The member's next of kin contact details would |
| - The service would be based on modern | | | | be provided if needed - no automated alerts! |
| telecommunications technology and not be reliant | | | | - Medical conditions such as high blood pressure or |
| upon fashion identification items or costly and | | | | pregnancy would be provided |
| unreliable call centres | | | | - Medication relating to medical conditions would be |
| - The service would eliminate the need for paper | | | | listed |
| based contracts as the agreement would be | | | | - Allergies such as penicillin or bee stings would be |
| underwritten by the terms and conditions of the | | | | listed |
| mobile phone contract | | | | - The existence of a living will would be listed |
| - There would be no need for financial assurances | | | | - The existence of an organ donor undertaking |
| as membership fees would be billed directly | | | | would be listed |
| against the member's existing mobile phone | | | | What is the reality? |
| account | | | | In the absence of such a service, mistakes are |
| - The member would have full control over, and | | | | made daily due to the lack of accurate |
| responsibility for, the privacy and ownership of | | | | information. As a result, patients land up in the |
| the recorded information | | | | wrong ambulance, in the wrong hospital, receive |
| - Retrieval of data would be fast and accurate | | | | inferior treatment or, at worst, lose their lives. |
| - Human error would be largely eliminated | | | | Insurance companies and medical aid societies pay |
| - The attending medic would merely submit a | | | | the price for mistakes made under these |
| request via SMS in order to retrieve the relevant | | | | circumstances, which ultimately leads to higher |
| information | | | | medical aid membership fees. |