Resources - SPECTRUM

My Medical Alert Passport

While you can't predict when an emergency may happen, you can be prepared. Maintaining a personal medical binder is key to ensuring you receive optimal healthcare support. Your Binder should include basic information (name, date of birth, blood type, and immunization records), emergency contacts, healthcare providers, diagnoses, allergies, medications, insurance information, preferred documents and vital documents (e.g., living wills, advance directives, medical power of attorney, and DNR orders).

While maintenance of this binder, with up to date and accurate information is important, it is also best to find a way to ensure your most pertinent information can be easily reviewed.

Your Medical Alert Passport (MAP) is intended to help hospital staff provide you with the best, personal emergency room, inpatient, and outpatient care, when needed.

It is most important to fully complete your MAP now, versus waiting until you may require an emergency room visit or hospital stay, when it might be more difficult to complete while under such stress.

Once your MAP is complete print out 2-3 copies and place within your medical binder (in a safe and accessible place).

If and when you do find yourself at the hospital, show your MAP to the doctors, nurses and any other healthcare professionals affiliated with your case. If you’re admitted to the hospital, ask the nurse to keep your MAP with your notes at the end of your bed and to make sure it is reviewed with each new staff member who comes on shift.