Fingers on the pulse of the healthcare industry

November 2007 Access Control & Identity Management, Healthcare (Industry)

In the fast paced environment of the emergency room, patients, medical information, and employees must be efficiently managed with very little time for extensive thought or time consuming practices.

Healthcare providers often find it difficult to securely manage all of this crucial information. As governments continue to tighten security and strengthen patient privacy through initiatives such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), many healthcare software providers and organisations are turning to alternative methods of security to ensure regulatory compliance and preparedness for future initiatives. In essence, there is no longer a trend of doing just the bare minimum necessary to comply, but rather a trend to go a step beyond. Biometric fingerprint software technology is probably one of the most common technologies that healthcare software providers have chosen as a means to go beyond what governments require.

Even in the early stages of use, healthcare providers are already beginning to reap the rewards of fingerprint technology. Hospitals, for instance, use this technology to control access to storage bins of medication, accurately identify patients, safeguard patient medical records and relieve doctors of the burden of having to remember complex usernames and passwords.

Traditional methods of identification can be easily compromised. Passwords and PIN numbers can be forgotten or shared, and ID cards can be lost or stolen. This severely affects security in a health care facility. With biometric technology, patient information and privacy are better protected because each fingerprint is unique and cannot be stolen. Employees and patients can be easily enrolled in the system by scanning their finger on a fingerprint reader a few times consecutively. After the initial enrolment process, only one fingerprint scan is needed to correctly identify an individual. With the biometric system, individuals who have not been registered with the software cannot log into the system. Employees can even clock in and out with their fingerprint. The system increases employee accountability by providing a realtime audit trail of employee activity.

The cutting-edge fingerprint technology does not save an image of the actual fingerprint. Each fingerprint is converted into a binary string that can only be utilised within the biometric provider's software, providing the ultimate in security.

For more information contact M2SYS Technology, [email protected], www.m2sys.com





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

A platform for access and identity at Securex 2025
Securex South Africa Access Control & Identity Management Facilities & Building Management
South African companies involved in supplying access control technology, security services, and data management are well-positioned to tap into the expanding access control market at Securex 2025.

Read more...
Background checks: risk levels and compliance
iFacts Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management
Conducting background checks is a vital step in the hiring process for employers or when engaging service providers; however, it is crucial to understand the legal framework and regulations governing these checks.

Read more...
Insurance provider uses Net2 For access management
Paxton Access Control & Identity Management Integrated Solutions Healthcare (Industry)
BestMed selected Paxton Net2 for its access control requirements because of its simplicity of installation and ease of navigation for end users, as well as the 5-year warranty.

Read more...
Identity is a cyber issue
Access Control & Identity Management Information Security
Identity and access management telemetry has emerged as the most common source of early threat detection, responsible for seven of the top 10 indicators of compromise leading to security investigations.

Read more...
Embracing contactless access solutions
HID Global Access Control & Identity Management
There has long been a discussion of the perils and virtues of authentication factors. Is it more secure to use something we have (a key card), something we know (a password), or something we are (biometrics)?

Read more...
Smart access for a safer community
neaMetrics Suprema Access Control & Identity Management Residential Estate (Industry) Products & Solutions Commercial (Industry)
Suprema has released its BioEntry W3 facial authentication access control device with multiple authentication options, including RFID cards as well as mobile credentials, designed for durability and resilience.

Read more...
The power of knowing your client
Ideco Biometrics Access Control & Identity Management Integrated Solutions
One of the most effective ways to combat the threat of fraud, identity theft, and financial crime threats is through a robust Know Your Client (KYC) process, which safeguards both businesses and clients.

Read more...
Smarter ways to secure your space
Elvey Security Technologies Access Control & Identity Management Products & Solutions
Ensuring the safety of people and assets has become more crucial than ever, and access control systems provide essential tools to regulate and monitor who can enter specific areas or access sensitive resources.

Read more...
Facial recognition in national security
Access Control & Identity Management Government and Parastatal (Industry)
As global security challenges evolve, facial recognition technology provides a vital edge by turning our unique identities into powerful assets for national defence and changing a sea of anonymity into a line of defence.

Read more...
Federated identity orchestration
Technews Publishing SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Access Control & Identity Management Security Services & Risk Management AI & Data Analytics
Understanding exactly who resides at the end of a digital device is key, and simple identity number verification by the Department of Home Affairs is no longer a viable solution on its own.

Read more...