In The Media

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Atlanta Health

Medical data in hand or online poses dilemma

Internet services offer access, choice for Georgians

By DOROTHY BROOKS
For the Journal-Constitution
Published on: 6/04/08

Mark Holland of Sandy Springs has vivid memories of watching his mother struggle to stay on top of his grandfather's health care.

"He had a couple of conditions, and he literally took over 50 medications a day," recalls Holland, noting that his grandfather couldn't remember all those medications, let alone the instructions on how and when to take them.

Holland's mom did her best to write all of this medical information down, but it required constant updating, and the task was overwhelming.

"It all came to a head one day when around midnight my grandfather developed a detached retina," says Holland. His grandfather managed to get himself to the emergency room, but physicians couldn't treat him until they knew what drugs he was taking. "They had to track my mom down, and she had to get the paperwork and drive it to the hospital," says Holland. "They lost valuable time, and I knew there must be a better way."

Unfortunately, this type of scenario plays out every day in doctors' offices and emergency rooms across the country, often resulting in delayed treatment, medical errors, and unnecessary expense.

Such problems would be greatly reduced if health plans and providers agreed on a common method and platform for tracking and exchanging health information, but until that day comes, a growing number of consumers are turning to personal health records or PHRs to collect and manage their own personal and family health information.

. . .

The simple approach

MedsFile.com is offered by the Vinings, Ga., company that Holland formed in 2004, as a result of his own family's struggles to keep up with his grandfather's complex medication information. What MedsFile provides is a personal, secure Web site that enables patients and caregivers to input and store whatever information they choose regarding medicines, supplements, physicians, immunizations, emergency contacts, and allergies. "It is basically a personal medical diary that is easily accessible by the patient, his or her caregivers, and doctors," says Holland.

It takes about two minutes to sign up for the service online, and it costs $3 to $4 dollars a month to maintain, depending on whether you want to be billed by the month or the year, says Holland. A MedsFile can be accessed, changed, or printed from the Web site at any time. And it may be viewed from a mobile phone. Further, in the near future, Holland plans to add a new feature to the service that will alert users of any potential adverse reactions whenever they enter a new medicine or supplement. "We really want to keep this as simple as possible right now," says Holland. "We are targeting baby boomers who may not be the most computer savvy people out there, and the elderly, some of whom have computer experience, but we don't want to get too overwhelming with this."

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