FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Twin Cities In Motion Leads the Way in Athlete Health and Safety
Online innovation streamlines athlete health information
Minneapolis, MN- (September 21, 2010) No runner anticipates having a health
crisis on race day but the reality is a lot can happen over 26.2 miles. For
the first time this year, Twin Cities In Motion (TCM) will invite
participants in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon and Medtronic TC 10 Mile
to create a Personal Health Record by partnering with Koozala, an online
Personal Health Record management system, allowing the medical team quick
and easy access to athlete’s health information in the event of an
emergency.
"Our primary focus with any of our events is athlete safety and their
health," said Virginia Brophy Achman, Executive Director for Twin Cities In
Motion. "We’re extremely fortunate to have an expert like Dr. William
Roberts leading our medical team, continuing to find ways to efficiently
care for our participants. We are pleased to offer this service to our
athletes."
Four years ago, TCM was one of the first organizations to use an electronic
means to collect and store health data for athletes participating in the
two races by emailing a health questionnaire, a method that has quickly
become archaic with the technology options today.
Through Koozala, participants will complete a health questionnaire that
provides the most relevant and up-to-date information the medical team
would need on race day. The questionnaire will request information about
allergies, health conditions and a race-day emergency contact, replacing
the need to fill out the back of their race bib. The Koozala system is
designed to support the privacy and security requirements of HIPAA and only
licensed TCM medical volunteers would have access to this information.
Not only does this process streamline race day protocol should a medical
need arise but it also will improve the knowledge of race medicine by
allowing the medical team to better anticipate the needs of the medical
tent and adequately prepare for athletes with health conditions.
Based on the success of this program, Twin Cities In Motion hopes to expand
this service to their other races and share it with other national
organizations, giving runners the option of simply updating their
information before their next race.
Twin Cities In Motion, (formerly Twin Cities Marathon, Inc.) is the
non-profit organization that organizes running events throughout the year,
including the Valentine’s Day TC 5K, 100% Irish For A Day TC 5K & TC 10
Mile, Medtronic TC 1 Mile, Red, White & Boom! TC Half Marathon, the TC 5K,
TC 10K & Medtronic TC Family Events, Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon,
Medtronic TC 10 Mile, all related events and Medtronic TC Kids Marathon
program, as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Visit
mtcmarathon.org for more information.
Koozala was founded in October 2009 by Ashish Gadnis with a vision to
empower consumers with critical health data they need every day. Based in
Minneapolis, Koozala is quickly gaining main stream health plan, consumer
and student campus momentum. For more information, visit www.koozala.com.
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