Besides the obvious consideration of price, there are three basic things to consider when choosing the type of USB memory you will use for your Portable Health Record: storage capacity, security, and the size and durability of packaging. Decent hardware can be purchased for about ten dollars, if you are not dead set on having all possible bells and whistles.
If you do want the most high-end features, you can expect to pay between fifty and eighty dollars for your gear. Interestingly enough, no one drive that I have seen offers all the “best” features wrapped into one package, so you will be forced to choose what your priorities are as far as capacity, security, and packaging style.
Storage Capacity: If you are putting together a basic record that will contain contact info, medications, allergies, and basic history, 512MB should be more than enough capacity, especially if the brand you choose offers a compression scheme that will allow you to crunch the data you expect to use less often into smaller files that can be stretched back out for later use (i.e. the Sony microvault series has a 3:1 compression scheme that will allow for almost 1.5 gigabytes on their inexpensive 512 MB chip).
For example, the prototype record that I put together for my grandmother contains the basic items mentioned above, plus imaging from a cardiac catheterization and echocardiogram, plus freeware that allows those images to be viewed in video format on any computer. About half the chip’s capacity remains open for items we may want to insert later, and we haven’t compressed anything yet.
However, if you are putting together a more complex record, say with several years’ worth of imaging, labs, consults, etc., consider getting hardware with at least 1G of memory. Since hardware is reasonably priced, when in doubt it is probably worth overshooting on the amount of memory needed.
Security: A few of the USB products you can buy have built in security systems. One really interesting scheme involves a fingerprint reader built onto the device that allows only the designated owner to access the information inside (although a password can be added as a secondary method for access if the user so desires, i.e. for situations when they anticipate being unavailable.)
Biometrics: The most popular of fingerprint reader drive is the one made by SanDisk, sold at Staples for about $60 and on a few cutrate websites for about $40 i.e.http://www.compuplus.com/i-SanDisk-512MB-Cruzer-Profile-Biometric-USB-20-Flash-Drive-with-Fingerprint-Recognition-SDCZ5-512-A10-1005024~.html?sid=8ne34pcp6paz0pm .
Storage Capacity: If you are putting together a basic record that will contain contact info, medications, allergies, and basic history, 512MB should be more than enough capacity, especially if the brand you choose offers a compression scheme that will allow you to crunch the data you expect to use less often into smaller files that can be stretched back out for later use (i.e. the Sony microvault series has a 3:1 compression scheme that will allow for almost 1.5 gigabytes on their inexpensive 512 MB chip).
For example, the prototype record that I put together for my grandmother contains the basic items mentioned above, plus imaging from a cardiac catheterization and echocardiogram, plus freeware that allows those images to be viewed in video format on any computer. About half the chip’s capacity remains open for items we may want to insert later, and we haven’t compressed anything yet.
However, if you are putting together a more complex record, say with several years’ worth of imaging, labs, consults, etc., consider getting hardware with at least 1G of memory. Since hardware is reasonably priced, when in doubt it is probably worth overshooting on the amount of memory needed.
Security: A few of the USB products you can buy have built in security systems. One really interesting scheme involves a fingerprint reader built onto the device that allows only the designated owner to access the information inside (although a password can be added as a secondary method for access if the user so desires, i.e. for situations when they anticipate being unavailable.)
Biometrics: The most popular of fingerprint reader drive is the one made by SanDisk, sold at Staples for about $60 and on a few cutrate websites for about $40 i.e.http://www.compuplus.com/i-SanDisk-512MB-Cruzer-Profile-Biometric-USB-20-Flash-Drive-with-Fingerprint-Recognition-SDCZ5-512-A10-1005024~.html?sid=8ne34pcp6paz0pm .
One drawback of this particular device is its bulk and somewhat oafish appearance, which makes it less appealing for some users (i.e. my grandmother wanted no part of this.) For some users, the bulk and styling of this item might not be an issue. There are also smaller fingerprint drives available from online vendors, but I have not yet seen them for sale at any retail stores.
Encryption software: Another approach to security involves built-in encryption software. One example of this is the SanDisk U3 series drive, which comes with its own encyrption scheme built in.
If you choose not to buy a drive with built-in security features, it is a fairly simple matter to add free or inexpensive encryption software yourself (see the Do It Yourself section of this blog).
Encryption software: Another approach to security involves built-in encryption software. One example of this is the SanDisk U3 series drive, which comes with its own encyrption scheme built in.
If you choose not to buy a drive with built-in security features, it is a fairly simple matter to add free or inexpensive encryption software yourself (see the Do It Yourself section of this blog).
Packaging Style: a quick online search for “USB drives” will reveal dozens of possible styles for your USB drive. You can get a drive that comes with a laser pointer, one that looks like a switchblade, or one in a neon color. Novelty aside, some pretty important things to consider are size, durability, and ease of carrying.
Size: For those who put a premium on small size and weight, the Sony MicroVault Tiny series is about one inch by one half inch and credit card thin (graphic here).
It comes in a rubberized carrying case with a lanyard for attachment to a keychain or purse. The durability of the case is questionable, but there are no reports of problems yet from anybody I know. The small size and appealing pastel color scheme of this series made it the gear of choice for my grandmother—in case you are curious, she got the purple 512MB version, shown above at its actual size.
Durability: if you are building a record for somebody you know to be “hard on gear”, the “ride it hard and put it away wet” type, consider getting a drive with a reinforced titanium or hard plastic case. These are available for a few extra dollars from most of the major brands and all of the “custom” usb websites. For example, the Cruzer Titanium model shown below claims to be crush resistant to 2000 lbs and is priced starting around $50 for a 512MB model.
Durability: if you are building a record for somebody you know to be “hard on gear”, the “ride it hard and put it away wet” type, consider getting a drive with a reinforced titanium or hard plastic case. These are available for a few extra dollars from most of the major brands and all of the “custom” usb websites. For example, the Cruzer Titanium model shown below claims to be crush resistant to 2000 lbs and is priced starting around $50 for a 512MB model.
Cruzer Titanium Drive, about 1/4 actual size
Portability: it is helpful to know ahead of time how you want to carry the record, and to buy accordingly. Some come with pre-punched holes for lanyards and keychains. Some actually provide rings or lanyards in their packaging. A few products present no easy method for carrying and are probably not good for our purposes.
2 comments:
Look shortly for the products already loaded from My Medical Records.Much more advanced,and different in types of portability
Could you expand on your comments, maybe give an example? I've read a lot of claims, i.e. about the "wonderful" new U3 pre-loaded software capabilities, that ended up being more of a hinderance than help. Thanks!
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