ICW looks to integrate PHRs with iPhone

InterComponentWare (ICW) has announced plans to integrate the Apple iPhone and other smartphones with the Life Sensor personal health record to transmit vital emergency medical information to hospital staff.

Patients who have access to ICW’s web-based LifeSensor system can print out a personal emergency card with a one-time use personal identification number to carry in a wallet or purse.

ICW says it is now in discussions to make the information available from the website – www.sos-lifesensor.com – in a format readable by smartphones.

An ICW spokesperson told E-Health Europe: “The goal of the Life Sensor personal health record is to provide medical history in an online format anytime, anywhere. This is especially important in the case of a medical emergency and being able to securely access these over smartphones such as the iPhone could be the next way of doing this.”

The integration would only work in situations which were not time-sensitive, but if the patient was able to present their records to emergency staff, it would mean they could receive the right treatment immediately, ICW say.

“Many ambulance workers often concentrate on stabilising the patient during transport but they will call in the emergency information to the hospital so that the information about blood type, allergies and pre-existing conditions are ready and waiting when the patient arrives. Having the information immediately will make care for the patient swifter and ensure patient safety,” the company said.

“The goal of the Life Sensor personal health record is to provide medical history in an online format anytime, anywhere. Integration with other devices would definitely aid this, but there is a lot to consider before our plans can really come into force.”

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ICW

Joe Fernandez