MedicAlert introducing technology that will allow 911 dispatchers to access records – CTV

May 11, 2025

MONTREAL — MedicAlert bracelets are well known to most Canadians — a distinctive piece of jewelry that allows first responders to identify medical conditions in emergencies.

The MedicAlert Canada Foundation, the non-profit that oversees the program, has been aiming to modernize its services in recent years and will soon deploy technology that connects its members’ electronic health records directly to 911 dispatchers.

When an operator receives an emergency call from a number, software developed by the foundation automatically sends a message to MedicAlert’s computers asking if the phone number is linked to a medical record found in its database.

If it is, it pops up directly on the dispatcher’s computer screen.

“All of this happens in less than a second,” said MedicAlert Canada President Leslie McGill.

“Before they even dispatch someone to respond to the emergency, they can actually see all of the medical conditions, all of the information that’s available in that record, and what that does is help the first responder prepare before they even get to the scene.”

Read more: https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/article/medicalert-introducing-technology-that-will-allow-911-dispatchers-to-access-records/