Florida Hospital is implementing a biometric identification system called PatientSecure® into local hospitals to reduce paperwork, improve accuracy and prevent identity theft. This new technology uses a near-infrared light to scan a patient’s palm and register and identify patients at Florida Hospital locations across the state including: Florida Hospital Carrollwood, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, Florida Hospital Tampa, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida Hospital North Pinellas, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center, Florida Hospital Heartland Medical Center Lake Placid andFlorida Hospital Wauchula. The device functions by reading the veins in the hand, which are unique to every individual, and essentially creates a digital signature.

“One of the first and most important steps in the care delivery process is accurate patient identification. PatientSecure® gives our facilities an advanced tool to digitally link each patient to their unique personal health record,” said Brent Snyder, Chief Information Officer for Adventist Health System.

This advanced technology is used upon the patient’s arrival and seamlessly links the guest’s personal biometric trait to their electronic medical record. This progressive system strengthens the registration process by automatically pulling up the patient’s health record, and in turn, creates a more efficient environment to better serve Florida Hospitals’ patients. Additionally, once enrolled in PatientSecure® a patient’s record can be accessed instantly by any Florida Hospital and their affiliates.

PatientSecure® provides a safe, secure, confidential, and easy way for Florida Hospital patients to register for care. In some instances, PatientSecure® can be a lifesaving tool if a patient arrives at the hospital without identification and is unconscious or unable to communicate. A quick scan of their hand would automatically pull up the patient’s medical record, alerting medical professionals to critical information such as past medical history, allergies and current medications.

“This new measure is evidence of our commitment to continually innovate and improve services for our patients and our community,” said Mike Schultz, President & CEO of the Florida Hospital West Florida Region. “The palm scan creates a unique digital signature which is especially beneficial to patients during return visits, as a simple scan of the palm will securely access their registration and insurance information, and accurately link them to their medical record, a crucial step in reducing potential patient safety risks.”

PatientSecure® also creates a higher level of security, confidentiality and protection for medical identity theft by ensuring that each patient is correctly linked to their unique medical record. As always, Florida Hospital recognizes the importance of patient confidentiality and sees this system as an asset in better protecting patient’s personal health information. Also, PatientSecure®limits the amount of personal information that needs to be said aloud or recorded on paper during visits, which promotes patient’s privacy.

For more information, visit http://www.forwardadvantage.com/solutions/identity-access-management/identity-management-secure-communications/patientsecure/