By Daryl Buchanan

ROCKVILLE-A company in Rockville is growing at record pace and is at the forefront in the healthcare field with technology that is vastly changing how health care professionals and patients communicate.

Get Real Consulting, soon to be Get Real Health in about 2 weeks, is based in downtown Rockville and was started eleven years ago. However, about six years ago they got involved in the health and wellness world and built a computer program called InstantPHR (Instant Personal Health Record).

Robin Wiener, President and Co-Founder of Get Real Consulting, says InstantPHR is the culmination of years of work previously spent on custom sites for health related issues. “Over the years we built custom sites, but we found that it makes more sense to build a single product that can reach a larger amount of people,” said Wiener. “We felt a company that can develop software but also make a difference was a really great idea.”

The InstantPHR is made up of 130 widgets that can reflect various healthcare needs from basic checkups and medication to more complex needs like diabetes, cancer, and brain illnesses. Wiener says it was introduced only two years ago and has already seen astonishing success.

The program allows doctors and patients to share information quickly without the need for a visit if it is a minor issue. For example Wiener says the program can be used for diabetics who must control their blood sugar. Instead of the doctor having to remind or ask the patient to do this the Instant PHR can remind the patient with prompts via computer.

Also for blood sugar readers with USB connection or Bluetooth they can upload results directly for the doctor to view via the InstantPHR. Wiener says the technology is really starting to catch on and has a number of benefits, especially when dealing with emergency room situations where correct information is needed quickly.

“This is really a perfect time for a product like ours. There is an increased interest in bringing health care costs down and also bringing clinical care and home care together. Healthcare reform has really helped our business. This combination of technology with health records is really beginning to take hold in places looking to modernize the system,” said Wiener.

The program also has applications for the use with the family members to keep tabs on elderly relatives by being compatible with smart phones and tablet computers. Relatives or care givers can track and share information with doctors to ensure proper care is maintained and also major health problems before they occur.

Wiener says InstantPHR has taken foot in places across the country and the world. She says the program is being used in Oklahoma, New York, Canada, and there are connections being made as far away as the United Kingdom and Taiwan. Locally the program is being used at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center.

Get Real Consulting is having a monumental year and has a bright future that could also positively impact many lives. They currently work with many non-profits like the American Diabetes Association, American Cancer Societ, and the American Heart Association to name a few. Wiener says she is excited about Get Real Consulting’s future.

“We have grown 40 percent and doubled our revenue. We are a small business that is growing, expanding, and hiring. I know that is good news for a lot of people in this economy,” said Wiener.

“We built this company the old fashioned way by pulling up our boot straps. We worked hard. We held our breath and saw through the hard times and now we’re seeing the benefits of our work. To be able to be in a business where we can help so many people in their day to day lives is very gratifying. I think this is a very exciting business.”