CAN A “SMARTPHONE” SAVE THE DAY?

I-phones, Androids and other phones with internet access are often called “smart phones”. At a recent session with Charla Sarabia, the Injury Prevention and Community Outreach Coordinator at Mount Sinai Morningside, we learned just how smart they can be. Did you know that you can set your phone up so that, in an emergency, any medical provider can access crucial health information such as medications you take, medical conditions you have, emergency contacts and name and phone number of your doctor, along with any other healthcare records? This can be incredibly important if you find yourself in a crisis in an unfamiliar hospital or if you are not able to speak for yourself. I joined a small group at the Morningside Heights library recently and we all learned how to set up our phone so that EMS or other emergency workers can quickly read our health data. They will not be able to see anything else on your phone — not your emails, texts, photos, etc. This is a service designed to keep us safe and healthy, not disrupt our privacy in any way. If you are interested in learning more, the hospital has provided us with a packet of information on what this technology is and how to use it. If you want someone to help you set it up on your phone, we can assist with that as well. If you would like to learn more, call Paula at (646) 734-0182.