Why Your Personal Medical Information Matters More Than You Think

In today’s interconnected world, we’re constantly reminded of the importance of protecting our personal information. We guard our bank details, personal info, social media accounts and even our online passwords, but what about our medical information? Often overlooked, this data is arguably our most sensitive and crucial information.

What is Personal Medical Information (PMI)?

PMI encompasses any data related to your health and medical history. Your PMI includes everything from doctor’s visit notes and diagnoses to prescription records, lab results, allergies, and even your lifestyle choices that impact your health. It paints a detailed picture of your well-being, a picture that’s intensely personal and incredibly valuable.

Why is PMI Important?

• Informed Medical Decisions: Accurate and complete medical information is the cornerstone of effective healthcare. Doctors rely on this information to diagnose illnesses, recommend treatments, and monitor progress. Missing or inaccurate information can lead to misdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, and potentially harmful consequences. Imagine a doctor trying to treat you without knowing your allergies – the results could be disastrous.

• Continuity of Care: When you see different healthcare providers, your PMI ensures everyone is on the same page. It facilitates seamless transitions between specialists, hospitals, and even different healthcare systems. This prevents redundant tests and conflicting treatments and ensures a cohesive approach to your care.

• Personalised Medicine: As healthcare advances, the focus is shifting towards personalised medicine – treatments tailored to an individual’s specific genetic makeup and medical history. Your PMI is the key to unlocking this potential, allowing doctors to make more informed and effective decisions based on your unique circumstances.

• Research and Advancement: Anonymised and aggregated medical data is crucial in medical research. By studying patterns and trends in large datasets, researchers can develop new treatments, discover cures, and improve public health outcomes for everyone. Your data, when used responsibly and ethically, can contribute to advancements that benefit society as a whole.

• Protecting Your Privacy: Beyond its medical significance, your PMI is deeply personal. It’s information you have the right to control. Protecting it from unauthorised access prevents potential discrimination, embarrassment, and even identity theft. Your health history is yours, and you deserve control over who sees it.

How Can You Protect Your Personal Medical Information?

Protecting your medical information is an ongoing process that requires proactive measures. One of the safest ways to keep your personal medical information in one place is with the World Medical Card. The app and physical medical ID card allow members to upload all relevant information, from medicines and prescriptions, surgeries and implants, vaccines, allergies, donor status, X-rays or hospital records, photos of non-prescription medications, diagnoses and insurance details. The World Medical Card provides users with the highest security level for online data storage, including personal information and transactions.

For the physical card, your medical information is coded according to the World Health Organization’s global standards codes (ICD-11, ATC) so that only health professionals and pharmaceutical personnel worldwide understand your condition and requirements.

Personal medical information is vital for any medical issues at home or abroad. Having access to all of your personal medical information in one secure place could mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. Help doctors help you and be prepared. Join World Medical Card today.