New registry gives Texas medics necessary data, fast

By Alex Branch
The Star Telegram

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FORT WORTH, Texas — Figuring out how best to treat an incapacitated patient and finding relatives to notify can be like investigative work for paramedics and emergency medical technicians.

Responders search for clues about patients' medical conditions, medications they're taking or allergies they have, says Matt Zavadsky, MedStar's director of operations. They rummage through purses and wallets for hints of their emergency contacts.

"We're basically in the dark when we get there," Zavadsky said.

To change that, MedStar is encouraging potential patients to register for the Invisible Bracelet, a program that lets emergency responders quickly view on laptops a person's medical history and notify relatives via e-mail, phone or text message that their loved one is being hospitalized.

Full Story: New registry gives paramedics needed data -- fast