Often in emergencies requiring public safety response seconds counts and minutes matter- in many cases defining the difference between successful or tragic outcomes in saving lives, protecting property and preserving cherished loved ones and their prized possessions. Equally as important for first responders is having early access to critical information to pre-plan how best to respond and react to mitigate the situation at hand most efficiently and effectively. Having access to such information has always been a challenge for first responders. QR911 offers that solution of a secured mechanism for communities to make readily available to first responders the information most critical to assuring their safety while being comfortable that it is completely secure but to the first responders themselves during the most critical moments of response.

As the Chief Medical Officer of one of Truven’s Top 100 hospitals in the US, and ranked by Women’s Choice as the top rated Emergency Department in the nation, a service like QR911 is invaluable to anyone providing first response to any patient, especially an unconscious one. While all first responders operate by very sound principles and practices of emergency care, having a vital piece of information stored on the QR911 application could mean the difference between life and death. I strongly support the adoption of QR911 by all service agencies and look forward to the day that having QR911 on all patients is the accepted standard of care.

Despite the recent widespread adoption of electronic health records, having accurate patient information available in the emergency department setting is still a challenge. Many electronic records are not adequately maintained and contain outdated or incorrect information. There is little to no communication between records from different hospitals and health networks. The reality is that when a patient arrives at the emergency department, it is often still a challenge to verify an accurate medical history. In the case of a serious acute illness, a patient may not have the capacity to provide that information. When immediate decisions need to be made regarding treatment options, having the most complete and accurate information can guide optimal decisions and avoid harm. When a patient arrives with current, accurate, easily accessible information like QR911 provides, physicians and care-givers can provide the most effective, safest treatment. Particularly in the most serious and life-threatening situations.

As a single, working mother with three small children, knowing that emergency personnel has access to my critical information through the easy use of QR911 is crucial to my peace of mind. When I am away from home and the boys are with a sitter it is an extra layer of protection and security that cannot be described. Peace of mind...priceless!