FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ramesh Srinivasan
MedicAlert Foundation
209.669.2407
rsrinivasan@medicalert.org
Marc Kullman
National Bipolar Foundation
901.830.5004
marckullman@comcast.net
(See below for full list of contacts)
National Bipolar Foundation Joins MedicAlert Foundation to offer
MedicAlert® + Safe ‘til Stable® – a 24-hour comprehensive protection system
Program designed to benefit individuals with bipolar disorder and their families
Memphis, TN (October 14, 2009) – The National Bipolar Foundation (NBPF), founded in 2007 in order to educate, reduce stigma, and seek affordable healthcare for those people living with bipolar disorder, and MedicAlert Foundation, a leader in providing identification and emergency medical information services, have teamed up to provide a 24-hour comprehensive protection system for children, adolescents, and adults with bipolar disorder and their families through the MedicAlert® + Safe ‘til Stable® program.
Bipolar disorder is said to affect at least 1 in 100 people and some say as many as 1 in 25. This cooperative effort between NBPF and MedicAlert Foundation will have widespread impact on our society. Children, adolescents, and adults living with bipolar disorder, who are involved in accidents and unable to speak for themselves will have the MedicAlert Emergency Medical Information Service speaking for them, informing hospital staff and treating medical providers of their diagnoses, current medications in order to avoid potential dangerous withdrawal, and the acute onset of instability in regards to any symptoms of bipolar disorder. Another major benefit of the program is that when a bipolar person finds themselves in an unforeseen incident, responders will react in an appropriate manner; thus given the opportunity to defuse the situation or transport the person to an appropriate facility. It is expected that this ultimately creates jail diversion benefiting all of society. The MedicAlert® + Safe ‘til Stable® program will benefit individuals wearing the identification jewelry, reduce stress on their families, and ultimately reduce the cost of their care for all taxpayers.
“We are excited about our new relationship with the National Bipolar Foundation” said Dr. Martin Kabat, President and CEO of MedicAlert Foundation. “MedicAlert Foundation was founded by a physician to protect people in times of medical emergencies and we believe this relationship goes right to the heart of our mission and history. The National Bipolar Foundation is working to decrease the overwhelming stigma of bipolar disorder, and will also help to promote our relationship. Therefore, we are honored to have the opportunity to work in alliance with them.”
The MedicAlert® + Safe ‘til Stable® program will provide comprehensive services that can safeguard and identify individuals with bipolar disorder in an emergency. Each individual enrolled in the program will be provided with a personalized MedicAlert ID and a MedicAlert wallet card that provide emergency responders with identification information, and details on any additional critical medical conditions or life-threatening allergies. Additional information is provided to first responders when they call the MedicAlert 24-hour Emergency Response Center.
The MedicAlert® + Safe ‘til Stable® program also ensures that designated family members will be notified if an individual requires emergency medical treatment in a caregiver’s absence. Through the program, caregivers will have the reassurance that any time a person wearing a MedicAlert ID has been located or treated, MedicAlert Foundation will contact them immediately. Since most people seeing a doctor for the first time regarding bipolar disorder may be unstable, this cooperative effort will provide physicians with a new safeguard to offer patients along with the beginning recommendations for treatment.
“We are very pleased that MedicAlert has agreed to partner with the National Bipolar Foundation on this much needed program” said R. Todd Vanderpool, National Bipolar Foundation Chairman. “MedicAlert has a global reach and an excellent reputation. We feel honored to be part of a program that will help those with bipolar disorder. This cooperative effort with MedicAlert is a major step in providing a valuable benefit to all people living with bipolar disorder and this program will save lives.”
About the National Bipolar Foundation
The National Bipolar Foundation was founded in 2007 by Memphian Marc Kullman and a group of dedicated businessmen in order to educate, reduce stigma, and seek affordable healthcare for those people living with bipolar disorder. The Foundation is currently running a nationwide public service announcement on network affiliate stations and has received write-in volunteers from 38 states. The commercial focuses on reducing stigma so people will come forward and seek help. For more information, visit www.nationalbipolarfoundation.org.
About MedicAlert Foundation
MedicAlert Foundation pioneered the first medical identification and emergency medical information service in 1956 to provide people with a simple but effective method for communicating their medical conditions. Since the organization’s founding, MedicAlert Foundation has provided services and products that help to protect and save lives for its 4 million members. For more than 50 years, the nonprofit foundation has relayed vital medical information on behalf of its members to emergency responders so they receive faster and safer treatment. MedicAlert IDs alert emergency personnel to a member’s primary health conditions. In addition to its 24-hour emergency response service, MedicAlert Foundation also provides family and caregiver notification so that members can be reunited with their loved ones. For more information, visit www.medicalert.org.
CONTACTS
Brad Champlin
Co-Founder, Board of Directors
Governmental Affairs
901.833.0225
brad@bradchamp.com
Todd Vanderpool
Chairman of the Board
Family Support Issues
901.494.2676
Todd.Vanderpool@banktennessee.com
Andre Fowlkes
Chairman, National Awareness Campaign
General Press Information
415.902.1487
akfowlkes@gmail.com
John Peters
Chairman, Technology
Technology benefits bipolar
ajpeters@otg-dss.com
Marc Kullman
Co-Founder, Board of Directors
901.830.5004
marckullman@comcast.net
Sheryl Love
Public Relations
Interview Scheduling
843.496.0432
love.shery@yahoo.com
Ramesh Srinivasan
Vice President of Business Development
MedicAlert Foundation
209.669.2407
rsrinivasan@medicalert.org
Everett Vieira
Product Manager
MedicAlert Foundation
209.669.2462
evieira@medicalert.org