MotherKnows – Better Medical Management for Parents

MotherKnows is a tool that parents can use to save and store their children’s healthcare records online. With the click of a button, parents can access records that detail their children’s immunizations, prescribed medications, and known allergies – all of which can be useful when enrolling a child in school, sending a child off to summer camp, or preparing a babysitter for what to do in the event of an emergency.

Most parents with young children don’t have time to spend hours setting up complicated online accounts, which is why MotherKnows has made its setup and registration process as streamlined as possible. Enter your child’s name, birthdate, the name of his or her doctor, and your email address. By approving MotherKnows’ medical release, you’re giving the pediatrician permission to share your child’s health records with the site. Once those records have been released, you can sign on to MotherKnows at any time and see all of your child’s vaccination information in a color-coded chart. Within the “Records” tab, you’ll also find a list of vital medical information, past and present prescriptions, and growth charts that show how your child’s height and weight progress compares to the national average. MotherKnows also keeps track of any allergies or conditions your child suffers from, lets you download your child’s complete medical chart, and notifies you when it’s time to schedule follow up appointments with the pediatrician.

In the event of an emergency, parents who use MotherKnows can view their children’s medical records on their mobile phones. In a few simple clicks, a parent can pull up his or her child’s records to share with doctors or on-site personnel. The site also makes it easy for parents to print out custom health cards for babysitters and teachers that list all of their children’s allergies, medications, and ongoing health concerns.

Practical Uses:

• Prepare a babysitter for what to do in the event of a medical emergency
• Access a child’s immunization records when filling out school enrollment forms
• See the exact dosages of the medications your child has been prescribed
• Get reminders before upcoming appointments with the pediatrician

Insider Tips:

• Parents must approve MotherKnows’ medical release in order to use the site
• All medical data is encrypted with 256 bit encryption
• MotherKnows will collect records from up to four providers, for users with the annual service plan
• Medical data can still be accessed and downloaded even if a user closes his account

What we liked:

• MotherKnows is a useful tool for parents who like staying organized
• Parents can use MotherKnows to help prepare their caregivers for what to do in emergency situations
• Users always maintain ownership of their medical data
• Growth charts show how a child’s height and weight compare to national averages

What we didn’t like:

• Users who opt for the paid monthly plan can only select one provider when they set up their accounts

Alternatives:

• AboutOne – http://www.aboutone.com
• MedeFile – http://www.medefile.com
• Microsoft HealthVault – http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/healthvault

Company Info:

• Launched: August 2011
• Privately Held
• Headquarters: Menlo Park, California
• Founded by: Hesky Kutscher and Greg Goff
• Web site: https://secure.motherknows.com

Costs:

• Monthly plan is $4.95/month, plus $49 setup fee
• Yearly plan is $49/year, plus $49 setup fee