Put Your Medical Records Online

Doctors launch a private medical registry to provide patient information in emergencies.

Tom Spring, PC World

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Two New York doctors think so. They've launched an online medical registry that they say will save lives. But skeptics are concerned that abuse and misuse of the service could hurt someone instead.

The Medical Registry lets you create a personal medical dossier on the Web for doctors to access in an emergency, or even when you make a routine visit to a doctor's office.

Its creators hope that the voluntary online service will give you "security, convenience, and peace of mind," and promote quality medical care.

"A lot of valuable time is wasted asking how old you are, are you allergic to any medications, or are you diabetic," said Murray Friedman, chief executive officer of Integrated Medical Technologies, which created the service. The time saved could save your life in an emergency, he said.

Doctors using the Medical Registry can skip the questions and refer directly to a Web site hosting your complete medical history--including digitized EKG, MRI, and X-ray images.

Online setup is free (for now), but the Registry charges $100 annually to retain your medical information online. You can update your files as often as you like, free of charge.

Life-or-Death Data

Ten years ago, while Friedman was on shift in a Brooklyn, New York, emergency room, doctors made a last-ditch attempt to revive a heart attack patient by injecting him with Lidocaine. The patient suffered an allergic reaction and died.

"They had no idea he was allergic," Friedman said. "If we had only known, we might have been able to save him."

With the Registry, Friedman and his partner David Steiner hope to prevent such mistakes.

When you sign up for the service you get a medical alert bracelet and a wallet card that directs a doctor to a Web site or a fax-back service where medical personnel can access and download your records. Files are encrypted and stored on a secure server that can be accessed only by a licensed doctor with your password.

Doctors enter your password (found on the card or bracelet) and submit their unique Drug Enforcement Act number.

Privacy Concerns

The Registry is the latest attempt by doctors to create a database that streamlines patient care. Federal government proposals for a national health information system were quashed earlier this year because of privacy concerns.

Unlike government proposals, the Medical Registry is voluntary, Steiner pointed out . But it still raises security, privacy, and safety issues for many.

Some critics believe that any database of medical records could be cracked by hackers or abused by the greedy. Doctors fear that patients might omit potentially embarrassing but medically important details in fear that their secrets will be revealed, said John Stanley, director of Ethics in Medicine, Science, and Society at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Something as simple as an incorrect blood type could be fatal if a user submitted the wrong information, he said.

However, Stanley praised the program for being ahead of its time. "Technology can actually build a better physician-patient relationship," he said.

Colorado cardiologist Dr. Salim Aziz also said the concept was "interesting and valuable."

"This is a step in the right direction," Aziz said. "I very much support this use of technology, provided there are adequate safeguards to protect privacy."

Friedman and Steiner both said the Registry adheres to a strict privacy policy. "Medical information is only accessible by users and their doctors," said Steiner. "That's it." Integrated Medical Technology is a one-month-old business that also sells prescription drugs and medical supplies through its online store, and offers patient referral services as well as an Interactive Ask-A-Physician service.

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