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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, In times of disaster, including during a hurricane, |
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tornado, flood, or public health epidemic, individuals may need to |
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seek medical care in shelters and other places where their medical |
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information is not readily available; in addition, a large-scale |
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disaster may temporarily force hospitals and medical offices to |
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close, limiting access to medical records from those facilities; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, If a patient needs to replace his or her |
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medications, health care workers can serve them most efficiently |
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when up-to-date medical information is provided, and a current list |
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of a patient's immunizations can also prevent them from receiving |
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redundant vaccinations when vaccine supplies are limited; and |
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WHEREAS, In undertaking advance planning for emergencies, |
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individuals should obtain a summary of their medical record |
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history, which can often be accessed through an online portal |
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managed by their health care provider; these records should include |
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a patient's current allergies and medications, immunizations, |
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medical issues, recent hospitalizations and relevant lab results, |
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contact information for primary care and sub-specialty physicians, |
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and other key data, such as a list of special medical equipment or |
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supplies; and |
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WHEREAS, A few small steps can make an important difference |
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in adequately coping with emergencies, and the observance of Texans |
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Medical Record Checkup Day on May 1 reminds all state residents to |
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ensure that they and their loved ones are prepared with |
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comprehensive health care information in the event of a major |
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disaster; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate May 1 as Texans Medical Record Checkup Day and |
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encourage all Texans to have access to or possession of an accurate |
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summary of their medical records as part of their disaster |
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preparedness plan; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of the date that this resolution is |
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finally passed by the legislature. |