Valley doctor developing next generation medical information system

GILBERT, AZ - A Valley doctor is developing a next generation medical information system.

If you think your workday is frustrating, think again.

Not only do emergency room physicians work long, irregular hours, but they are responsible for making life and death decisions each day.

It's a big responsibility that is often complicated by a lack of patient information.

"I had to run a Google search on one patient because she was unconscious and came in with no information," said Dr. Mary Mazza, emergency room physician at Gateway Banner Medical Center.

Dr. Mazza says such cases are typical.

"Often times we have no idea who they are or what may have happened to them," she continued.

That type of mystery story plays out every day in emergency rooms across the country. When patients show up at the doors with no medical information and unable to communicate, doctors must spend time researching their patients' identities to determine their medical histories and drug allergies.

That can take up precious treatment time, while risking a fatal drug reaction.

"There's got to be a better way," said a frustrated Dr. Mazza.

That's what sparked her to develop an electronic card that would store and allow access to patient information.

"I just want to help my patients," she explained.

The product is in early stages of development, but the concept revolves around an electronic card that would store and allow access to important patient information.

The card would keep the data safe, but accessible to the patient and any physicians needing to see it.

It's a small component of a much bigger trend of electronic medical record keeping.

"The idea is that if we can get all the information electronic, and develop the infrastructure to share that information electronically, then our doctors will have the information when they need it," explained Melissa Rutella of Arizona Health-e Connection.

The group is a non-profit entity that aims to lead Arizona's establishment of health care information infrastructure.

It was created in 2005 out of a gubernatorial executive order to develop a plan for statewide health information systems.

Rutella says the overall goal is to develop a system of electronic records keeping that would allow patient information to seamlessly follow that patient from hospital  to follow ups and pharmacies.

It's a fast growing area of development after federal stimulus funds were made available in 2009 to spur research and design across the country.

While broad, nationwide systems are still at least five years away, state wide systems are closer to becoming reality.

In fact, major health care providers, like Banner, have their own systems in place.

"We can access patient records if they've been in the Banner system," explained Mazza, "but if they come to us from outside the system, we may have nothing on them."

That's where broad, national architecture comes to the local level.

Systems like the on Mazza is developing can help ensure patients have the critical information they need, should they find themselves in the emergency room.

Similar technology is already on the market in the form of USB thumb drives.

Patients can load their medical histories, drug allergies and even their living wills onto the small devices which can be carried on key rings.

The products often come with monthly fees, and the accuracy of the information largely depends on the patient.

Dr. Mazza and the staff at Arizona Health-e Connection support the idea of broader reaching system, which would follow the patient through all steps in the process.

"In five years, I think when you go to a doctor's office, it's going to be normal to have a laptop or a computer when you visit your physician, or see your pharmacist,"

Easy access to important information encourages doctors like Mazza.

"We can send emails across the planet in the blink of an eye, but I can't see the records of my patient from across the street," said Mazza. "There has to be a better way."