September 19, 2006 - As medical errors rise, patients are becoming more aware of their right to control their own medical records. More people want to take control of their health and live a longer healthier life. With widespread acceptance of portable, reliable storage devices such as USB drives, electronic medical records that patients carry on their person promise to increase the quality of care while lowering its cost. And that will benefit everyone in the healthcare industry, from patients to providers to payers.
Local Companies received prestigious awards from Gov. Jeb Bush Monday marking the beginning of the 22nd Annual Business Appreciation Week.
Patient Practitioners LLC, the creator of the first completely portable and self-contained Personal Health Electronic Record being marketed worldwide received the prestigious 2006 Governor’s Business Diversification Award for Innovation from Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Patient Practitioners LLC President Dr. Naomi Melvin and CEO Douglas Courtney accepted the award on behalf of the company at the Governor’s Mansion Monday in Tallahassee.
Patient Practitioners LLC was one of the 12 companies honored overall, and joined two other local companies in Bay, Washington, and Jackson Counties singled out in an intimate ceremony in the Governor's Mansion. The statewide program was developed by Enterprise Florida to recognize Florida companies in emerging and high-technology industries for their contributions to Florida’s economic growth annually during Industry Appreciation Week. “As we celebrate Industry Appreciation Week, it is important to recognize those exemplary Florida companies that uniquely embrace the qualities underpinning our economy: innovation, entrepreneurship, corporate leadership, and volunteerism,” said Governor Bush.
About Patient Practitioners
As a newcomer in the telehealth arena Patient Practitioners LLC believes that it is important to bring diversity to the industry and empower individuals to take control of their health. The iPHER™ offers relief from the burdens of dealing with medical records and the hassles associated with them. With a link to any EMR ( Electronic Medical Record) and Web Portal system that allows users to create web storage lockers that delimit their health information records from their personal identity the iPHER™ allows you to “Own Your Health” stated Anaiis Pozo, VP Sales & Marketing.
Aside from all the other benefits, the most basic element and essential element of the product is that it is a step toward the future of creating the most accurate and reliable system for storing, organizing and delivering on demand personal health information across the entire Healthcare Continuum anywhere in the world.
The personal health electronic records contained on the iPHER™ can be accessed by any desktop or laptop and in the near future by any cell phone, TV or in a personal vehicle or airplane with enabled USB connections. Unlike other models on the market there is no additional hardware or software needed beyond a Microsoft Operating System and the USB Port. The value of having up-to-date information at a moments notice is almost unlimited in an emergency situation. A Paramedic or EMT would be able to access a patient’s entire medical history before leaving the site of any emergency situation such as a car crash. In addition, the information could be emailed through a wireless network to the doctor in an emergency room of a hospital to quickly begin treatment. If this happens in another country where English is not spoken then all the information on the iPHER™ can be translated to the language of the doctor with a simple click of a button. Currently the iPHER contains English, Spanish and French with Chinese, Arabic and other languages to follow.
Aside from emergency situations the use of an iPHER™ makes standard doctor visits easier on both parties. The iPHER™ personal medical record can be printed in advance and/or read by any medical facility, cutting down time spent retrieving patient records and allowing doctors to spend more time with patients. Having the system update the personal medical record with every doctor visit reduces patient worries about tracking numerous medical records from different health care providers. The system can hold photographic identification, dental records, immunization records, X-rays, EKGs, prescription drug records, diagnosis, surgeries, laboratory tests, alternative medicine interactions, herbal use records, blood type, organ donor information and personal and family genetic profiles for Pharmacogenomic DNA drug prescribing in the future.
In the U.S., the iPHER™ can create the portability needed for the personal health information system described by Congress in the “Wired for Health Quality Act, November 2005”.
The benefits of this system extend past just accessibility and convenience. It is part of a
“Patient Revolution” to create a continuum of care between patients and the health care system that recognizes patients as active practitioners in their personal wellness. The product is useful in cases of malpractice, fraud and insurance matters. Since cost is always an important factor in any person’s consideration it is useful to know that the iPHER™ loaded with the Patient Practitioner™ program is very inexpensive and will aid the patient in saving money on future medical expenditures.
As for employers, by improving the insurance claim process and reducing duplicated tests to payers themselves and their employees will also save money and reduce medical errors. The use of the system can be useful to medical facilities which are early adopters. This case could not have been more evident after the natural hurricane disasters that hit the US Gulf Coast States in 2005. Facilities accepting relocated hurricane evacuees were unable to retrieve medical records and treated patients without accurate information increasing health expenditures and medical error probabilities.
“Florida’s entrepreneurs and business leaders are striving to diversify and strengthen our state’s economy. Because of the commitment and achievements of our business community, Florida continues to lead the nation in job creation,” said Governor Bush.
With locations both in Chipley and Palm Coast, FL Patient Practitioners LLC wants to maintain that lead by bringing more jobs to Florida in the near future with the help of a grant to create at least six new jobs for this area within a year.
“We want to make Florida the Model for Healthcare by creating our own Health Network and donating laptops to local EMS organizations” said President Dr. Naomi Melvin. To learn more about donating to your local EMS visit us at www.myipher.com
Below is a list of all the award recipients:
Business Expansion: Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc. (Palm Beach County), Mega Market; Florikan E.S.A. Corporation (Sarasota County), Major Market
Entrepreneurship: Skillstorm, Inc. (Broward County), Mega Market; MadahCom, Inc. (Manatee County), Major Market
Export Excellence: BIOMET Company (Palm Beach County), Mega Market; Oceaneering Multiflex (Bay County), Major Market;
Innovation: Nemours (Duval County), Mega Market; AuthenTec (Brevard County), Major Market; Patient Practitioners, LLC (Washington County), Mid Market
Newcomer: Quadrant Software, Inc. (Hillsborough County), Mega Market; Ruth's Chris Steak House, LLC (Seminole County), Major Market; Family Dollar Distribution Center (Jackson County), Mid Market
"These companies have demonstrated exceptional innovation and dedication to Florida's economic growth, increasing capital investment and promoting positive corporate citizenship," said Enterprise Florida President and CEO John Adams. "We applaud these model businesses and their contributions to entrepreneurship, corporate leadership and volunteerism, all of which make Florida such a wonderful place to work and live." The event was sponsored by Bank of America and Florida Trend magazine.
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