Welcome to the Future

Some attendees at last week's Atlanta Diabetes Expo got a bit of high-tech swag along with their free glucose gel samples and insulin brochures. VeriMed implanted eighteen Expo attendees with an radio-frequency identification device (RFID) - a microchip about the size of a grain of rice that holds the entire health history of a patient. A handheld scanner, utilized in a growing number of hospitals nationwide, unlocks the patient's information should they be unconscious or unable to communicate.

RFID chips are typically implanted in the right upper arm, just under the skin. They are inserted by a doctor utilizing an injection procedure, similar to a shot. Once a handheld scanner reads your chip number, it draws on a patient database to pull up your health history, contact and physician information, and other voluntary information. The chip (including cost for insertion by a doctor) is several hundred dollars, with an annual fee to keep your health data available and current.

Even if you do go high-tech and get the chip, remember that it doesn't replace visible medical identification worn on the body. Currently, only 449 hospitals nationwide use the RFID scanner. And people around you still need to know you have diabetes in case you have a crisis situation outside of the emergency room.

Comments

1. At 12:52 PM on Thu, Jun 28, 2007 Michelle wrote:

   Hello everyone,

   I am a Producer at CBS here in Atlanta. We're doing a piece on the Verichip computer chip. I am looking for people locally that would be willing to chat with me about their experience with the chip. I can be reached via email or phone: mglorieux@cbs46.com or 404 327 3226

   Thanks so much,
   Michelle

2. At 09:37 AM on Mon, Mar 26, 2007 Marcia wrote:

   ok, sounds good. However, I have read the bible, and nothing is going to be implanted in my wrist! Hello, anyone know what I'm talking about!

3. At 11:13 AM on Sun, Mar 25, 2007 Peggy Adams wrote:

   I was one of those 18 people that got the RIFD chip implanted. The doctor that implanted it did it for free. My only cost is the low annual maintainence fee. It was a painless procedure, To change your medical information, you just have to go on-line to the Verimed website. I feel it is worth it, if I ever get in an accident and can't speak for myself.

4. At 07:10 AM on Mon, Mar 19, 2007 SHARON PALMER wrote:

   My medical information changes each year. The cost of keeping this information current would be prohibative. Many diabetics cannot even afford the cost of a Medic Alert bracelet and keeping the status current that. One of my friends with diabetes works full time, but she can barely afford the co-payments on her insurance for her medicines and appointments. For that reason, she bought a bracelet that simply idenetifys her as having type 1 diabetes.

5. At 05:42 PM on Wed, Mar 14, 2007 Mary Taschenberger wrote:

   How can I get a list of where the tours and Expos will be coming?