The Modesto Bee
Sept. 16, 2005
MedicAlert Foundation, the emergency medical information service, provided critical medical information to physicians and pharmacists to those members displaced by Hurricane Katrina. Turlock-based MedicAlert has waived any membership renewals this year for anyone affected by the disaster in the Gulf South. Members who need an emblem or membership card replaced can call MedicAlert to have a basic emblem replaced at no charge.
With paper medical records of thousands of Gulf Coast evacuees destroyed by the hurricane, the MedicAlert 24-hour emergency response center responded to emergency calls from shelters to provide medical information to physicians and pharmacists who were assisting MedicAlert members. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected. If there was ever a time when having electronic medical records were important, this is it," said Paul Kortschak, president and CEO of MedicAlert. "Our focus is to provide a safe and secure place to store our members' electronic medical records, such as allergies, medications, implanted device details and advance directives. We are committed to their safety."