My LifePlan, Panasonic and Bio-Key Unite to Provide Secure Access to Medical Information

Ravenna, OH -- My LifePlan, the emerging leader in providing immediate, secure access to vital medical information, has announced the successful deployment of MyChoice® with the Fire Department of Stow, OH, and a Letter of Intent for service with Akron General Medical Center. A secure, Web-based, subscription medical information service, MyChoice® utilizes fingerprint biometrics from BIO-key, (OTC Bulletin Board: BKYI), a pioneer in biometric identification solutions, to empower individuals with control of their medical information, and provide instant access to emergency medical and other related personnel.

"My LifePlan searched for companies to not only bring its technology to life, but also those that care about people and put patients first," said Ruth Skocic, CEO and founder of My LifePlan. "This project has been a big undertaking in finding the right fit in this health care ecosystem, which we are taking nationwide. In health care, an industry that is broken in drastic ways, trying to find the best for the people can be a difficult burden, and we owe this to consumers."

My LifePlan integrates the latest biometric technology and web-based access to provide first responders and hospital emergency room staff with secure, immediate access to critical information that can have a life and death impact, including medical history, emergency contact and personal directives. Through MyChoice, vital medical information becomes available with the simple scan of a fingerprint.

Important to note, is that subscribers are able to maintain all of their medical information and designated emergency contacts, which are now accessible at anytime and from any location. Also, access to this information is protected by BIO-key's fingerprint identification software and My LifePlan's proprietary methods.

"I was compelled by the idea of combining biometric identification with the healthcare process to establish a trusted resource for individuals," said Ben Hammel, director of Identity Management Solutions, BIO-key. "We get hundreds of ideas every day for using biometric technology, but MyChoice truly stands out as a state-of-the-art solution to help save lives."

Founded in 1914, Akron General Medical Center is a 511-bed, 26-bassinet, adult, tertiary-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital staffed by more than 1,000 physicians, 3,400 healthcare professionals and support staff and 550 volunteers. This facility is a forerunner in emergency care, with emergency locations in Stow, Akron, Bath and Lodi, Ohio.

Since the opening of Akron General's Emergency Department at its Health & Wellness Center in Stow, Ohio, in 2007, Akron General and the City of Stow have developed a strong partnership providing the best, most efficient emergency care.

Likewise, the City of Stow's emergency services are trendsetters in pre-hospital emergency care, and its emergency services are recognized for delivering efficient and lifesaving health care from the time a 9-1-1 call is received to the time a patient is delivered to an emergency department. Collaborating with My LifePlan was a natural opportunity for Stow to extend its scope of services once again through their ongoing partnership with Akron General.

"This solution saves time and streamlines patient care, which is of the utmost importance during emergencies," said Dr. Jack Mitstifer, president of in-patient services at Akron General Medical Center where patients are evaluated, treated and released from the Emergency Department faster than the national average. "It puts -- and keeps -- the power in our patients' hands, giving them the ability to present their vital medical records quickly and securely."