Medical Records A Hot Issue After Katrina

Reaction to Katrina's health implications has been one of shock and aftershocks. The first wave of health concern was to rescue, to counter dehydration and attend to immediate medical crises such as heart attacks and complications from diabetes. These issues were easily understood by the general public. Now, more and more physicians are bringing attention to the tragic loss of medical records. John Hutchins, founder of PinnacleCare and a nationally-known leader in healthcare advocacy, hopes this lesson will be the life-saving legacy of Katrina.

John Hutchins, founder of PinnacleCare and a nationally-known leader in healthcare advocacy for more than 40 years, never thought he'd see the day. "In my entire life's work of patient advocacy, my passion for consolidated transferable health records has drawn yawns. People just haven't considered it an urgent topic. It took the agony of 1 million people with lost medical records to underscore the point." The cornerstone of healthcare advocacy is the consolidation of comprehensive medical records and access to those records by physicians.

Why are medical records crucial

Why are medical records so vital Each individual body reacts differently to both illness and treatment. Without records, physicians are handicapped in accurately diagnosing symptoms, understanding possible effects of drugs, and assessing the benefits and risks of surgery. The risk of medical mistakes or inadvertent negligence is exponentially increased without proper and available medical records. "It's like a baseball player coming to bat without needed contact lenses or a tennis player using a bare hand instead of a racquet. You just don't have the tools to do the job and would rely on a lot of guessing," according to Hutchins. "The problem is, this isn't a game, it's your health and your life."

A new portable tool for comprehensive medical records for entire family

Just this month, PinnacleCare began offering its members a new way to store these records, the PinnacleCare KeyTM. The Key is a USB port key chain that houses the entire member family's consolidated medical records.The Key is used by executives and families who travel extensively and want a physician, anytime, anywhere to be able to plug in the Key and access complete medical history. The information inscribed is formatted to physician specification for quick and easy understanding of the patient's medical profile. This is crucial in emergency situation, especially when the patient may be unable to communicate due to illness or language differences. The Key is becoming as essential as a cell phone for college-bound students far away from home, giving their parents peace of mind. In addition, adult "sandwich generation" PinnacleCare members are signing up their distant or traveling parents to ensure comprehensive, proactive health management and to get the Key.

Record-collection tedious for individual, but essential for healthcare advocacy

The Key is an expansion of John Hutchins' top priority. "Complete, consolidated medical records are the first and most important step towards family health, just as important, if not more, than drawing up a will." Every PinnacleCare membership begins when a family authorizes the company to contact all doctors' offices involved in each family member's health history. The company arranges for transmission of the records from each office to a single, central source and the documents are reviewed by PinnacleCare physicians, following chart review protocol to ensure all pertinent information has been captured. For a family of four, notes Hutchins, the process takes at least 30 hours by his company's experienced staff. Furthermore, Hutchins says, "For most people inexperienced in healthcare systems, the process of contacting doctors and gathering files is the equivalent of a part-time job." Committing to the process, however long it takes, is responsible health management. John Hutchins hopes this lesson is the life-saving legacy of Katrina.

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