VeriChip launches direct-to-consumer marketing campaign

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. VeriChip, which is a provider of radio frequency identification systems for healthcare groups, will launch its first-ever direct-to-consumer marketing campaign in South Florida on April 28.

As part of this campaign, the company has renamed its patient identification system Health Link and will be debuting a new Web site at www.healthlinkinfo.com that will go live at the campaign launch. The site will provide complete information about the product and how to enroll as a Health Link member. VeriChip has also entered into a relationship with HearUSA, a leading provider of hearing care, which has eight HeaRx locations throughout the Palm Beach market where patients can enroll in Health Link.

Health Link is the connection between a patient and his/her personal health record. It provides emergency room doctors and nurses with immediate access to their vital medical and emergency contact information, which will help them to treat them accurately during an emergency. Health Link utilizes a tiny microchip and a secure, private, online database that connects the patient to their respective personal health record.

The Health Link microchip stores only a unique 16-digit identification number and is injected just under the skin in the rear upper portion of the right arm. When a Health Link member presents in an emergency department unconscious, unresponsive or confused, emergency medical personnel use the Health Link scanner to retrieve the member’s identification number to access his or her personal health record.

Scott Silverman, chairman and chief executive officer of VeriChip, said, “Given our successful infrastructure build-out in South Florida, we are now ready to escalate our marketing efforts to increase consumer awareness and adoption through the first DTC launch of our product. We chose to partner with HearUSA because of their impeccable reputation as a quality provider of hearing health care. This partnership also allows us to offer consumers a convenient location in a professional setting where they can be educated on Health Link and enroll as a member.”