Leslie Cronin Advertisement

Entrepreneur Leslie Cronin is exploring locations in Pahrump to establish a service and call center for ICE-Meds, a product and company under development.

He says it could create 300 jobs locally.

While he is looking for existing space now, Cronin said he wants to build his own facility and would "look at Pahrump contractors first" to get the work done.

Cronin explained his innovative take on storing medical records at Tuesday's town board meeting, asking for the board's support. The agenda item was not listed as an action item, so there was no vote, but attendees listened with interest.

ICE-Med files would enable subscribers to carry their medical records with them at all times on a computer memory stick for a small price. The device initially costs $19.95 for users under 18, with a $3 monthly service charge. For adults, the cost is $29.95 initially with an $8 monthly fee.

Information is stored only on the small device, not uploaded onto a central database, so there is no danger of hackers stealing personal information.

"There is no government access to files and no way at all anyone can access Social Security numbers or other information," said Cronin. To share information, he added, "You have to give your password to an agency."

In addition to the obvious benefits of having vital information such as allergies to medicines available to paramedics in emergency situations, creating call center jobs for the 24-hour-a-day service would add much needed income for local families and increase the town's tax base.

"Last year, there were over one million people killed in emergency rooms by not having their medical records with them," said Cronin.

He explained that his patented and copyrighted software is carried on a USB device on a key chain. Sony introduced Universal Serial Bus devices in 1999 and the technology is proven and reliable.

"You can plug it directly into your computer and send your information to a specialist in another area of the country," said Cronin, who lives in Pahrump. He added that 1.5 million people in the military are already wearing such information around their wrist on combat medical devices.

"A lot of us died in Vietnam because such information wasn't available," he said. ICE-Meds has a version for use by police and firefighters to make information available immediately. A password can be made available to such first responders.

Cronin said a child's version has been developed and parents can give school officials a password in case of emergency. There is also a version for senior citizens.

During public comment, interested residents asked how the information is put onto the device.

There are 32 pieces of information entered onto a form supplied by ICE-Med. Subscribers initially enter their own medical background. Ensuing doctor visits are entered onto the USB device by the medical office, using a password supplied by the patient.

Cronin is looking for investors and can be reached via e-mail: Wesley@ice-medfiles.com.