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Medical information vital during emergency

Sandy Stauffer Uncasville

Publication: The Day

Published 04/23/2012 12:00 AM

Updated 04/20/2012 05:51 PM

I found the April 16 article, "L&M doctor envisions 'passport' to better system of health care," very enlightening. A personal information card is an excellent idea. Although I am not a medical professional, I have had a few situations in my life during which such a card would have had invaluable information about me. Last year when I was on vacation in Florida, I had a near fatal emergency. I was in ICU for five days. Thank God, my husband and two of our long-time friends got me to the hospital. I was in so much pain, I could not give the ER doctor any information. My husband told them what he knew, but what if he had missed something? If I had one of those ID cards, it would have been great.
To make things more difficult, on the way home from Florida, we had to stop in North Carolina, where I was admitted for three more days. They did have my record from the Florida hospital, but it would have been great if they knew that I am a 10-year cancer survivor, and how that would have affected my care.
Perhaps some day such information can be put in a chip under our skin.