DANVERS — Injured in a foreign country? Letting a first responder know of your allergic reactions might be a little difficult if you don’t speak the local language.
But two Massachusetts pharmacists, including one from Danvers, are developing a new, portable medical record called the “Universal Urgent Care Passport” to help frequent travelers record their particular medical conditions, needs, and much more.
Dr. Dutrochet Djoko, a Danvers local known for his volunteer work in town, and Dr. Jerry Kounga Kounga have worked on designing the pamphlet through the past decade to find the most important information, universally recognized symbols, and other considerations.
The duo, both natives of Cameroon, became professional compatriots while studying at the Mass College of Pharmacy in the early 2000s.
Dr. Jerry Kounga first raised the idea of the so-called “passport” for medical information about a decade ago to Djoko, as the two of them frequently travel internationally and need their passports with them at almost all times.
Dr. Dutrochet Djoko said they both realized, however, that many international travelers may not have a way of communicating with foreign medical professionals or, worse, let them know how to contact their next of kin. He said many people keep their passports in safe locations while abroad, meaning incidents like a traffic accident or a heart attack could happen while lacking a form of identification.
The Universal Urgent Care Passport, called UCaP, includes around a dozen pages of possible information one could fill in about medical history, medications, and other contacts. The booklet also includes spaces for identifying information including dental records, identifying features, and more. All of this is designed to fit in a compact booklet no larger than the typical passport.
“If you’re in Paris, you may not speak French,” Djoko said. “We have some internationally approved signs that will allow a first responder to have a better idea of what kind of patient you are.”
Djoko and Kounga noted while the amount of information is seemingly excessive at first, the individual owner of the UCaP can ultimately determine the amount of info they would like to write in.
“You decide the information you want to share,” Djoko said. “It’s really a personal choice. But no matter how little you want to share, everyone should be able to share enough.”
Djoko said the pair are currently working on the final details on publishing and selling UCaP, expecting to release their product in 2020, alongside a website and associated marketing push. Djoko said he was optimistic about early sales reaching one million by 2021.
“Our philosophy is simple,” Djoko said. “If a million people get this document and we save two lives, it’s worth it.”
