DELRAY BEACH, FL—February 22, 2007 — VeriChip Corporation (NASDAQ: CHIP), a provider of RFID systems for healthcare and patient-related needs, announced today it has partnered with Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc., headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL, to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the VeriMed Patient Identification System in managing the records of Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers. In the two-year, 200 patient study, participating individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as their caregivers, would receive the VeriMed™ implantable microchip to provide emergency department staff easy access to those patients’ identification and medical information.
Alzheimer’s disease is one of several medical conditions identified by the Company as being ideally suited for the benefits of the VeriMed system. Individuals with the disease or other forms of dementia are often unable to give necessary identifying information or critical medical history upon being admitted to a hospital. The VeriMed Patient Identification System allows physicians in the emergency room to scan the patient’s arm and immediately obtain his or her unique 16-digit identification number. The physician can then access the VeriMed database and obtain the patient’s name and address, caregiver contact information, diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia disorder, name of physician, current medications, and current medical issues. Alzheimer’s Community Care also believes it is important for caregivers to obtain the implantable VeriMed. If a caregiver becomes ill, the database will provide medical information that the patient would be unable to provide, as well as inform medical personnel that he or she is the caregiver for someone unable to care for themselves. All participants in the study will be voluntary. In the case of Alzheimer’s patients unable to make medical decisions, the legally designated responsible party must give permission for the patient to participate.
Scott R. Silverman, Chairman and CEO of VeriChip, commented “We are extremely pleased to partner with Alzheimer’s Community Care on this relevant study and believe participants will benefit from an improved standard of care when they present at a hospital emergency department. As an ‘always there’ technology, we believe our implantable VeriMed microchip and the VeriMed Patient Identification System is an essential solution and provides peace of mind for the families of those who cannot speak for themselves.”
“Alzheimer’s Community Care has identified the VeriMed Patient Identification System as an important new component of helping Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers remain safe,” said Mary Barnes, President and CEO of the organization. “We are partnering with VeriChip to make this new technology available to the particularly vulnerable population of Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers currently being served by the agency.”
About Alzheimer’s Community Care
The mission of Alzheimer’s Community Care, Inc. is to promote and provide specialized, compassionate, quality care to Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders patients and their caregivers and ensure their safety, health and well being while preserving their dignity within a community-based environment. The organization serves as an innovative model of care which advocates for services and resources which are accessible, affordable, individualized, and evidence-based.