InformationSTAT

In a medical emergency, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. When a patient is unconscious and has an underlying medical condition or drug allergies, a good decision depends on fast access to an accurate and current medical history STAT.

 

Did you know?

Most physicians still use paper records. The latest data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) indicate that only one-quarter of office-based physicians reported using fully or partially electronic medical record systems in 2005. While this is a 31 percent increase from the 18.2 percent reported in the 2001 survey, work needs to be done to move our healthcare system from paper-based to a more rapid information exchange.

 

The benefits of electronic medical records far outweigh the costs. The U.S. healthcare system could improve care, as well as save $162 billion annually with widespread use of healthcare information technology (Source: A two-year study by the RAND Corporation released September 14, 2005).

 

Making the Public Aware, Getting Community Leaders on Board

It is important to make the public aware that most caregivers do not use secure electronic health information exchange and that vital health information is not being rapidly transferred electronically to the point of care when and where it is needed.

 

The InformationSTAT campaign was created to raise awareness of the urgency for developing a system for sharing secure electronic medical histories among qualified healthcare providers across communities, across states. According to the eHealth Initiative, many communities are in the early stages of implementing a health information exchange system to share this information electronically among healthcare providers.

 

STAT is a medical term used to imply “urgent” or “rush.” InformationSTAT emphasizes that we don’t have a moment to waste to deployimportant health information to medical personnel where and when they need it.

 

The national public service campaign is sponsored by the eHealth Initiative (eHI) and it points to the life-and-death difference secure electronic health information exchange can make, especially when a patient is unconscious and can’t tell a physician about allergies or special medical conditions.

 

eHI is the independent, non-profit organization working to drive improvements in the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through information and information technology. As national sponsor of theInformationSTAT campaign, the eHealth Initiative will encourage local community health information exchange initiatives to aim education efforts toward physicians, other healthcare providers and consumers. The campaign includes radio ads, print ads, billboard art, partnership development tools and other resources to be used by community-based local sponsors to start the dialogue and increase awareness among consumers about the vital need for secure electronic health information exchange in their community.

 

To begin planning your local, state or regional campaign, take a careful inventory of materials available to you on this site. The materials were developed to allow you to customize them to create your own local market identity. All marketing, media and ad campaign material is designed to allow you to insert the sponsoring community logo and contact information.

 

InformationSTAT campaign pieces are organized as follows:

      I. Partnership Outreach

     II. Media Outreach

    III. Ad Campaign

 

So get started, you don't have a moment to waste!