MedKaz Reimagines How Providers Can Share Their Patient Records, Opening the Way to Unimagined Healthcare Improvements, Savings, and Provider Profits.
The traditional method of patient record sharing, called “interoperability,” aims to connect individual provider EHR systems “on the fly,” via networks, enabling seamless record exchange. The issue is the extensive, costly infrastructures needed, including patient registries, nationwide networks and government organizations. After 15 years and untold costs, it still doesn’t work. A recent Information study conducted among 400+ leading healthcare executives found: “Only 19% of respondents report full adoption of interoperability initiatives, while 93% say gaps in interoperability continue to hinder their capacity to make timely medical care decisions.”
In stark contrast, MedKaz® provides total interoperability today — without special support organizations or proprietary networks. MedKaz focuses on the patient and their records, NOT on providers and their EHR systems. MedKaz aggregates copies of a patient’s records from all of their providers, on a patient-owned MedKaz mini drive. The patient carries it on their keyring along with house and car keys, and gives it to any care provider.
MedKaz is System Agnostic, Integrating Seamlessly with EHR or Paper-based Systems.
MedKaz focuses on managing records, not on how to create, format or network them. MedKaz works independently of provider EHR systems, even when they can’t work, due to power outages, natural disasters, or malware and ransomware shutdowns. They only need a charged computer. It turns every record into a searchable PDF document that is read in a browser (open with only 2 clicks). A care provider can open it instantly to search its contents, as in a Google search. It opens to the most recent document containing the search term, with the term highlighted. The provider quickly scans previous notes to find the necessary information.
Is MedKaz Safe and Secure?
MedKaz is password controlled at two levels. A patient or provider must enter a password to log into the MedKaz and access it’s contents. The only exception is Quick View, which allows an Emergency Medical Providers to log in if the patient cannot communicate. This provides access to the patient’s basic information for care, not the detailed medical records. A patient can lock specific records if he wishes to control who sees them; he must enter his password to unlock them. The MedKaz server is the only device that can download a record directly to a patient’s MedKaz.
MedKaz Is NOT a Second EHR System
Providers continue to record their notes in their EHR system, not on their patient’s MedKaz, but they use their patient’s MedKaz alongside their EHR system, to understand and coordinate their care across multiple providers and health systems. A provider’s EHR System contains each patient’s records. MedKaz contains patient records from ALL providers. A provider only enters data into one system, the EHR. It is this access to their patient’s records from all their providers that empowers them to avoid costly “medical errors” that harm — or even kill — their patients, and avoid unnecessary visits, tests and procedures.
MedKaz Streamlines Clinical Workflows, And Saves Providers Time
At the start of a visit, when the care provider logs onto his patient’s MedKaz, it spontaneously generates a health summary that saves the provider 3 to 6 minutes getting up to speed with his patient’s issues and overall care. This provides additional face time with patients, rather than screen time hunting, scrolling and documenting — avoiding the “burnout” from excess documentation challenges. The patient can even save more time by completing the pre- visit questionnaire — the “instant medical history “ — prior to the visit.)
As the provider conducts the exam, they can instantly search the patients’ MedKaz and coordinate care with additional providers. This empowers patients to avoid costly medical errors and unnecessary visits, tests and procedures that plague healthcare today and contribute to the excessive costs. (this simple step is what interoperability is all about — and what providers cannot do with their EHR systems currently). Following the visit, the provider enters notes in the EHR and an assistant uploads a copy to the MedKaz server. The note is instantly searchable on the device, with relevant meta data to briefly summarize its contents.
A USB Mini Drive is the Ideal Digital Device for Patients to Control, and Share Their Medical Records
It’s convenient, and simple- yet powerful and inexpensive, It is easy to use, easily replaced, fast and has a massive storage capacity. Used by 30+ million seniors and low-income earners who do not have smartphones, but frequently require care. MedKaz does not require costly support services, such as Patient Identification Registries, or hard-to-maintain networks and systems. Providers have instant access to a patients lifetime health record, which frees them from the extra cost and time to request and fax records. MedKaz ensures old records are accessible, even if the providers have closed or destroyed them.
No One Can Change or Delete a Medical Record on the MedKaz
Records can’t be changed or deleted from a MedKaz. If a patient is reading a record in their MedKaz browser and sees a mistake, with one click they can create an “addendum”, enter a correction, and permanently attach it to the record. In addition, a patient can opt to hide a medical record on the MedKaz, but all hidden records can be displayed at any time by simply clicking on “Edit Patient Information -> Show Removed Data.”
Patients Have the Ability to Update Their Personal Information.
A patient initially enters personal information on the MedKaz when they activate it. This includes their: name, address, care providers, contacts, insurer(s), employer(s), advance directives, chronic illnesses, early history, family history, and social history. When they need to update this information due to a move, job change, insurance or advanced directives, they just enter the changes on the MedKaz. In turn, this information is sent to the server, which captures it and sends the updates to all providers so their records are current.
MedKaz is a Communication Platform
Within 24-hours of a medical encounter, a patient can log into their MedKaz and download a copy of their new record. They can read it in a simple browser to be reminded and better understand what the doctor said, and even catch mistakes if there are any (which are identified in an “addendum”). With 2 additional clicks on the MedKaz, they can open a health reference website such as Mayo Clinic, WebMD, NIH, or PatientsLikeMe, to learn more about their illness. Additionally within 24 hours, the MedKaz server will automatically “push” the copy of the note to additional providers of care who treat the patient for the same or related conditions, allowing them to catch errors or stop unnecessary visits, or duplicate tests or procedures before they happen. This simple step can greatly reduce the patient’s cost of care. A patient can also automatically share their records with another party of their choosing, whether it be family members, nursing care, home health, researchers or caregivers. The patient designates contacts with whom he wants to share his records and the MedKaz Server automatically sends copies to them so they are fully informed and can help improve care coordination.
The MedKaz Business Model is Unique–It Benefits Everyone
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- MedKaz is an inexpensive subscription service.
- A patient can subscribe directly for only $99 per year (Family Packs of 2, 3 or 4 MedKaz devices sell for lower unit prices.)
- A payer — employer, insurer or government agency — can provide a MedKaz to their employees or patients as a wellness benefit for as little as $6.00 per month per employee/insured.
- These costs are easily recovered by patients who save on deductibles and co-pays when their providers avoid unnecessary visits, tests and procedures.
- Payers, Employers, Insurers, and Government carry the bulk of the risk and reap the bulk of rewards when costs are avoided or reduced, so they have a strong incentive to urge patients and providers to adopt MedKaz. They can easily do so by giving a MedKaz to their employees/insureds as a wellness benefit, and paying financial incentives to providers when they use the MedKaz during a visit, and/or upload copies of their notes to the MedKaz server.
- MedKaz is free to care providers and very profitable. The financial incentives paid to providers who use MedKaz dwarf the cost of installing standalone computers in exam rooms. (You can estimate how much new income/profit MedKaz will generate for a practice, clinic, or hospital, and its return on its investment (ROI), by modeling your practice on the MedKaz Value Calculator.)
- MedKaz does not require costly organizations or networks for funding. It was created and is solely maintained by Health Record Corporation, DBA as MEDKAZ®, who maintains the application, the server and provides the services necessary to maintain it..
A MedKaz Future
With MedKaz, multiple medical practices with multiple EHR systems can collaborate, share information, and change from fee-for-service (FFS), to true value-based-care (VBC), and form profitable Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). Those responsible for connected care within their communities may want to consider cost-cutting measures and future change. When MedKaz is widely adopted, healthcare as we know it will improve significantly and cost substantially less. Healthcare spending as a percentage of GDP will decline, benefiting patients, providers, and payers alike. Isn’t it time to bridge the gaps in the current healthcare landscape?
