Verichip says the test program will provide an implantable microchip to patients with chronic diseases, so emergency room staff have easy access to their medical information. The chips will also help avoid costly or serious medical errors.
Participating Horizon BCBSNJ members with chronic illnesses will be inserted with VeriChip’s FDA-approved, human-implantable RFID chips just under the skin of their right tricep. Each patient’s unique 16-digit identifier found within the chip will then tie into their electronic medical record stored within the VeriMed patient registry, and is accessible to Hackensack University Medical Center’s physicians. Each record will contain information related to the patient’s condition, family contacts, lab test data, and pharmacy records.
This two-year collaboration is a milestone for VeriMed and for our implantable identification technology marking the first time a health insurer has sponsored such a program, stated Kevin McLaughlin, CEO, VeriChip Corporation.
