InfoWatcher™ is the proud winner of the 2006 Caregiver Friendly Award chosen by Today's Caregiver Magazine.
From The Trend Midweek December 4, 2002
In the Spotlight
A Healthy Choice
By Sheri Elfman
Montgomery County Editor
You never know when there’s going to be an emergency, and in most cases, no one but you knows your medical history. What if you couldn't communicate? How are doctors going to know if you have any medical allergies? How will they know if you have any diseases?
Joyce Cocchi has the answer. The Sellersville resident invented InfoWatcher™, a system of forms for you to fill out with your medical history, insurance information and doctors' phone numbers. It is sold in a wallet-only version, in a folder version and on a display stand. You can keep the information in your home and also carry it with you so you will always have your medical information nearby.
Cocchi, a homemaker and mother came up with the idea a couple of years ago while taking care of her mother, Bettie. Diagnosed with cancer and emphysema, her mother was on a number of medications and sometimes used machines to help with her breathing. Cocchi was always afraid that if she wasn't there and an emergency were to occur, her mother wouldn't be able to get the medical attention she deserved.
Also, Cocchi noticed that whenever she took her mother to different specialists and doctors, she was always getting asked the same questions.
"I wasn't even able to remember all that information," she explained. "I was scared - suppose one time I forgot a medicine?"
"That's a lot of pressure," she added.
She started to keep all her mother's medications on a list, which eventually turned into the form she uses today.
When Cocchi first started giving out the forms to doctors, she got a lot of positive feedback.
"Everyone I gave the form to was excited about it," she said.
And Cocchi herself was quite satisfied.
"It was just for safety and peace of mind," she said.
Putting an Idea Into Action
Cocchi saw just how important it was to be organized about medical information the first time she called the paramedics for her mother. It took them a half hour to get her mother out of the house because they had to ask so many questions about her health and medical history.
"They couldn't go any quicker because they needed to know this," Cocchi explained.
Although she understood the importance of the questions, Cocchi was also quite worried because her mother's breathing problem.
"It was scary," she said.
Cocchi vowed to do something to make the situation smoother if it were to occur again.
Months later, when the two had to call the paramedics again, they were ready. Cocchi had her mother's information set up on her nightstand.
"She was on her way in five minutes," she said
While Cocchi was in the waiting room, a paramedic sought her out to tell her how much she loved it.
That has been the reaction she has gotten over and over. Many doctors have also commented favorably and have recommended that she should go public with it.
Her mother was also a big fan of the product for obvious reasons. She was extremely proud of her daughter's InfoWatcher™ product and used to stop doctors and tell them about it.
"She would be laying in the emergency room, having trouble breathing, and would be telling everyone what her daughter made," Cocchi said.
Finally, it was suggested by her husband that she do something about it.
Cocchi found the Horsham-based Media Minds in the Yellow Pages and called up about her idea. They recommended many graphics companies, and Cocchi chose to work with Pennsylvania Visual Graphics Inc.
Together, they made the three versions of InfoWatcher™, which is now available to the public.
Cocchi, whose mother passed away two years ago, is glad that she can now share with others what has been such a useful tool for her and her family.
"I want to give others the same tool we had because it helped tremendously with her care," she said. "Her illness inspired me to touch the lives of so many others in an positive way."
For more information or to buy InfoWatcher™, visit http://www.infowatcher.com or call 215-453-3146.
11-17-2002 14:56 EST
InfoWatcher™ Press Release is released
The first InfoWatcher™ official press release has been released, and can be found at http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/021114/phth060_1.html