Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for accessing electronic medical records are provided in which a portable computing device uniquely associated with a user authenticates an identification of the user and automatically retrieves information corresponding to the user from electronic healthcare records systems using the identification. The retrieved information may be combined with other information and electronically delivered to a healthcare provider or patient. Delivery may be initiated by the portable computing device and directed to a computing device of a healthcare provider or patient. Exchange of records and other information between the user and the provider is effected using a first channel to provide a network address of the records and cryptographic keys necessary to extract the records, and a second path to deliver the encrypted records. The first path may be implemented using a camera or optical scanner to read an encoded optical image.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for accessing electronic medical records are provided in which a portable computing device uniquely associated with a user authenticates an identification of the user and automatically retrieves information corresponding to the user from electronic healthcare records systems using the identification. The retrieved information may be combined with other information and electronically delivered to a healthcare provider.