Patient Medical Condition Identification Systems

Revised and approved by the ACEP Board of Directors January 2006
This policy statement was originally approved as a board motion titled "Patient Identification Systems" October 1976 and was approved as a policy statement by the ACEP Board of Directors June 1999 

The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) supports the development and use of systems that provide appropriate patient information to a patient's health care providers. Such systems include medical alert badges and bracelets, medical information wallet cards, and electronic medical records. ACEP recognizes the patient's right to confidential treatment of such information, including adherence to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements.