Enhancing Hygiene and Efficiency in Healthcare with Iris Recognition Technology

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As the world continues to grapple with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining a sterile environment in healthcare settings has become more crucial than ever. Now, more than any other time, the spotlight is on the choice of biometric hardware and its direct impact on hygiene standards in these settings. In this light, iris recognition technology is rapidly carving a niche for itself as a preferred choice in healthcare facilities. Its non-contact nature minimizes the spread of pathogens, fostering a safer environment for patient care.

Introducing RightPatient®, a groundbreaking biometric patient identification solution that leverages the power of iris recognition technology. Unlike traditional biometric hardware systems that require physical contact, RightPatient® is entirely contactless. This feature is not only instrumental in minimizing the potential for transmission of pathogens but also guarantees a safer and cleaner patient environment.

Why is hygiene such a critical factor in the adoption of iris recognition technology in healthcare? The answer is simple but profound. The non-contact nature of iris recognition technology allows healthcare providers to maintain a sterile environment while simultaneously enhancing efficiency in patient identification. Therefore, RightPatient®, with its touchless attribute, emerges as an intelligent choice for healthcare providers looking to streamline their workflow without compromising patient safety.

Need evidence? Consider the positive outcomes stemming from RightPatient’s implementation at eight hospitals in Charlotte and Winston-Salem, including Martin Health in Stuart, Florida. Thanks to its non-contact feature, RightPatient® has remarkably optimized patient registration and significantly improved identification accuracy. This has resulted in over 99% patient acceptance and enrollment. These improvements have not only saved invaluable time but also minimized potential contamination risks, fostering an efficient and hygienic care environment.

But RightPatient® doesn’t stop at improving hygiene in healthcare settings. It extends its reach to significantly reducing fraud and medical ID theft, averting medication errors, and eliminating duplicate patient records. Moreover, with its capability to identify patients bedside using any Windows-based tablet or smartphone, medical staff can now provide safer and more efficient care.

In essence, the significance of hygiene in choosing biometric hardware for patient identification cannot be overstated. As healthcare providers continually prioritize patient safety, the adoption of non-contact solutions like RightPatient® will only continue to grow. RightPatient® not only streamlines your workflow, but it also communicates to your stakeholders that patient health and safety are your topmost priorities.

To learn more about RightPatient® and its touchless biometric patient identification solution, visit our website or contact us directly. Experience the benefits of a solution that not only improves your workflow but also underscores your commitment to hygiene and patient safety. With RightPatient®, hygiene and patient safety are not just words; they are an intrinsic part of your healthcare delivery system.

How to Implement RightPatient® in Your Healthcare Facility

  1. Understand the Benefits:
    First, familiarize yourself with the benefits of RightPatient®. Learn how its iris recognition technology can enhance hygiene and efficiency in your healthcare facility.
  2. Plan Your Implementation:
    Next, plan your implementation strategy. Understand why biometric patient identification implementation should be a priority in your healthcare facility.
  3. Train Your Staff:
    Train your staff on how to use RightPatient®. Show them how it can be used to authenticate patients bedside using any Windows-based tablet or smartphone.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is RightPatient®?
    RightPatient® is a touchless biometric patient identification solution that uses iris recognition technology. It is designed to maintain a sterile environment in healthcare settings by eliminating the need for physical contact during patient identification.
  2. Why is RightPatient® considered a preferred choice in healthcare facilities?
    RightPatient® is preferred due to its non-contact nature, which minimizes the spread of pathogens and ensures a safer environment for patient care. It also streamlines the patient identification process, making it more efficient.
  3. What are the benefits of using RightPatient®?
    RightPatient® not only reduces the potential for transmission of pathogens but also improves efficiency in patient identification. It has been proven to increase patient acceptance and enrollment, reduce fraud and medical ID theft, avert medication errors, and eliminate duplicate patient records.
  4. Can RightPatient® be used on mobile devices?
    Yes, RightPatient® can identify patients bedside using any Windows-based tablet or smartphone, allowing medical staff to provide safer and more efficient care.

Boosting Patient Safety in Healthcare with Iris Recognition Technology

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In an era where technological innovation is revolutionizing various sectors, healthcare is no exception. RightPatient, an industry-leader in patient identification solutions, is at the forefront of this transformation, employing advanced iris recognition technology. Iris recognition is critically instrumental in enhancing patient safety, mitigating the risk of medical errors, and fortifying the security of healthcare environments.

Misidentification-related medical errors are a grave concern in the healthcare industry, leading to unnecessary financial burdens and, more alarmingly, jeopardizing patient lives. According to a John Hopkins study, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the United States, many of which are attributed to patient misidentification. Furthermore, misidentifications are estimated to cost the healthcare industry a staggering $6 billion annually. The need for a reliable, accurate, and foolproof patient identification solution is more critical than ever.

Enter RightPatient’s Iris Recognition technology. Purpose-built to ensure exceptional patient safety, this cutting-edge technology accurately identifies patients, significantly reducing misidentification errors. It safeguards patients from costly and potentially fatal mistakes, thereby elevating the quality of healthcare.

Unlike traditional contact-based methods, iris recognition is a non-invasive process. This feature considerably reduces the risk of infection transmission within healthcare facilities, a concern that has been amplified in the wake of global health crises. This hygienic identification method contributes significantly to the overall safety and security of healthcare environments.

In addition to ensuring patient safety, RightPatient’s Iris Recognition technology also provides robust data security. It adds an extra layer of defense against medical identity theft and fraud, two rampant issues that plague the healthcare sector. By preserving the integrity of patient data, it insulates healthcare organizations from the costly repercussions of data breaches.

Consider the real-world example of Martin Health in Stuart, FL. They integrated RightPatient into their healthcare system, and within a week, the system was fully functional. The staff needed less than a day’s training to master the new technology, and patient acceptance and enrollment into the RightPatient platform exceeded 99%. The non-invasive iris biometrics technique significantly lowered infection risk, leading to reduced medical errors and enhanced patient safety. Since the system’s installation, Martin Health has seen an uptick in patient safety, a decline in medical ID theft, and a consistent Master Patient Index (MPI).

The advancements in iris recognition are not just improving patient safety but are also thwarting medical errors and bolstering healthcare security. Adoption of this technology can lead to significant improvements in healthcare outcomes and instigate a revolution in patient safety.

Discover more about RightPatient’s Iris Recognition technology at www.rightpatient.com and reach out to us at www.rightpatient.com/contact/ to learn how this technology can enhance patient safety in your healthcare organization. The future of healthcare is here, and RightPatient is leading the way with their innovative Iris Recognition technology.

How to Implement RightPatient's Iris Recognition Technology

  1. Reach Out to RightPatient: Visit the contact page on the RightPatient website to express your interest in implementing their Iris Recognition technology.
  2. Integration: Once you've made contact, the RightPatient team will work with you to integrate the technology into your healthcare system. You can learn more about this process by reading about the real-world example of Martin Health.
  3. Training: The RightPatient team will provide necessary training to your staff to ensure they can effectively use the technology. For more insights into the training process, check out the advancements in iris recognition.
  4. Enrollment: Once the system is fully functional, patients can be enrolled into the RightPatient platform. The non-invasive iris biometrics technique significantly lowers infection risk, leading to reduced medical errors and enhanced patient safety.
  5. Monitor and Evaluate: After implementation, monitor the system's effectiveness and evaluate improvements in patient safety, reduction in medical ID theft, and the consistency of the Master Patient Index (MPI).

FAQs

  1. What is RightPatient's Iris Recognition technology?
    RightPatient's Iris Recognition technology is a touchless biometric solution designed to ensure accurate patient identification, thereby reducing errors associated with misidentification and enhancing patient safety.
  2. How does Iris Recognition technology enhance patient safety?
    By accurately identifying patients, the technology helps eliminate dangerous and costly mistakes that can lead to medical errors. It also reduces the risk of infection transmission due to its non-invasive nature.
  3. How does the technology protect patient data?
    RightPatient's Iris Recognition technology provides an additional layer of protection by making it virtually impossible to impersonate a patient, thus securing the integrity of patient data and shielding healthcare organizations from the costly consequences of data breaches.
  4. How does Iris Recognition technology compare to traditional identification methods?
    Unlike traditional contact-based methods, iris recognition is a non-invasive process, significantly reducing the risk of infection transmission within healthcare facilities.
  5. What are the benefits of implementing RightPatient's Iris Recognition technology?
    Benefits include unparalleled accuracy in patient identification, hygiene-friendly usage, robust data security, and enhanced patient safety.

Enhancing Patient Safety with RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers: A Guide for Healthcare Decision-Makers

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In the fast-paced, ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, ensuring accurate patient identification is an absolute necessity. It is a critical element that underpins patient safety, data integrity, and operational efficiency in healthcare centers. The challenge here is to choose the right technology that aligns with these goals. The choice is primarily between dual fingerprint readers and single image devices. However, this isn’t just a comparison of technologies, but a critical decision that will have profound implications on your healthcare facility.

In this article, we will delve into this vital subject and focus on an innovative product, RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers. This sophisticated solution stands out in the realm of patient identification for its exceptional accuracy, reliability, adaptability, durability, and affordability.

Renowned for its unparalleled precision, RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers significantly diminishes the risks associated with patient misidentification. The robust build of the device is intended to withstand the high-demand environments of healthcare facilities, making it a worthy long-term investment. Moreover, the solution’s versatility caters to a broad spectrum of patient scenarios – from new patient registrations to regular visits and even emergency situations.

The cost-effectiveness of the solution further enhances its value proposition, delivering superior performance without straining your budget. This is a vital consideration, especially in an industry where cost constraints and budget limitations often dictate decision making.

To illustrate the effectiveness of RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers, let’s consider the case of International Health Management. This healthcare provider was struggling with inaccurate patient identification, duplicate patient records, frequent medication distribution errors, and ongoing fraud. They found their solution in RightPatient®.

Post implementation of RightPatient’s biometric identification solution, the benefits were immediate and substantial. The system enabled quick and precise patient identification, eradicated duplicate medical records, decreased medication errors, and strengthened security. As a result, International Health Management witnessed dramatic improvements in their patient identification process, setting an excellent example for other healthcare facilities.

While dual fingerprint readers have clear advantages, the ultimate decision between dual fingerprint readers and single image devices should be guided by your healthcare facility’s specific needs and resources. It is important to evaluate factors such as accuracy, reliability, adaptability, durability, affordability, and versatility to make a well-informed decision.

Bear in mind, the objective isn’t just to adopt technology, but to invest in solutions that prioritize patient identification and, ultimately, patient safety. Experience unmatched accuracy, robustness, and value with RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers.

Elevate your patient care with RightPatient. For more details or inquiries, please visit RightPatient or Contact Us. Understanding the power and potential of the right patient identification solution can be transformative for your healthcare facility. Make the right choice with RightPatient’s Dual Fingerprint Readers.

How to Implement RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers

  1. Evaluate Your Needs: Understand your healthcare facility's specific needs and resources. Consider factors such as accuracy, reliability, adaptability, durability, affordability, and versatility.
  2. Choose the Right Solution: Based on your evaluation, choose the right patient identification solution. In this case, RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers is a recommended choice.
  3. Implement the Solution: Implement RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers in your healthcare facility. Ensure that it is used in all patient scenarios – from new patient registrations to regular visits and even emergency situations.
  4. Monitor the Results: Post implementation, monitor the results. Look for improvements in patient identification, reduction in duplicate medical records, decrease in medication errors, and strengthened security. A case study of International Health Management can serve as a reference.
  5. Invest in Patient Safety: Remember, the objective isn't just to adopt technology, but to invest in solutions that prioritize patient identification and, ultimately, patient safety.

FAQs

  1. What is RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers?
    RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers is a sophisticated solution for patient identification in healthcare facilities. It is renowned for its exceptional accuracy, reliability, adaptability, durability, and affordability.
  2. How does RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers enhance patient safety?
    RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers significantly diminishes the risks associated with patient misidentification, thereby enhancing patient safety.
  3. What are the advantages of RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers over single image devices?
    RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers outperforms single image devices in terms of accuracy, reliability, versatility, durability, and cost-effectiveness.
  4. How does RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers contribute to operational efficiency in healthcare centers?
    RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers enables quick and precise patient identification, eradicates duplicate medical records, decreases medication errors, and strengthens security, thereby contributing to operational efficiency.
  5. Is RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers a cost-effective solution?
    Yes, RightPatient's Dual Fingerprint Readers delivers superior performance without straining your budget, making it a cost-effective solution for patient identification.
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Why Patient Photos Should Be Linked to Medical Records

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The following post on why patient photos should be added to medical records to improve patient safety was submitted by Michael Trader, President and Co-Founder of RightPatient®

The Push to Increase Patient ID Accuracy and Safety

Achieving accurate patient identification in healthcare is an important catalyst to ensure safe, cost-effective care delivery. Although we believe that accurate patient ID should have received more attention and scrutiny parallel to the rapid digitization of the healthcare industry, the issue has finally been thrust into the spotlight by powerful organizations such as AHIMA, the ONC, and CHIME as something that must be solved in order for other mandates (e.g. interoperability, health information exchange, population health, etc.) to materialize. 

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Why aren’t more healthcare providers capturing patient photos during registration?

Many healthcare organizations have proactively addressed the lingering issue of accurate patient identification by implementing new technologies that supplement existing methods of obtaining demographic information, insurance cards, and proof of ID. The idea is to add biometrics as an added layer of identity protection, security, and identification accuracy by asking patients to provide a physiological token prior to accessing health data and/or medical services. Biometrics for patient ID has rapidly caught on as a proven method to prevent fraud and medical ID theft, improve data integrity, prevent duplicate medical records, and safeguard protected health information (PHI).

Patient Photos Should be Captured During Registration

Despite the rising demand for biometric patient identification to improve patient identification and increase safety, not all solutions are created equal. Healthcare organizations that invest in unilateral biometric patient identification solutions quickly discover that they do not have the ability to easily and automatically capture the patient photo during registration and subsequent visits. This is unfortunate as the photo plays an important role in patient safety and in driving additional value throughout the ecosystem.

In addition, capturing the patient photo with a web camera during initial registration is not enough. This method often produces very poor quality photos, adds an extra step to the process, and the photos cannot be relied upon for other potential uses, such as facial recognition to verify patient identities during remote encounters. 

One important differentiator that should be considered when researching a biometric ID solution is whether or not it offers the ability to capture a high-quality patient photo and recognize the patient in a single step. Why?

  • Patient photos are proven to reduce medical errors.
  • Respected, influential healthcare organizations recommend including patient photos with their medical record.
  • Patient photos increase patient safety.
  • Photos can be used as a second credential for multi-factor patient authentication.
  • The photo serves as a visual reminder to the provider, thereby enhancing caregiver communication with the patient.
  • High-quality patient photos allow healthcare providers to leverage facial recognition for accurate patient ID when patient’s access PHI or services in non-traditional settings such as mHealth apps, patient portals, and telemedicine. This enables a holistic approach to establishing accurate patient ID because it addresses all points along the care continuum instead of a narrow approach that only covers patient ID at the point of service in a brick and mortar setting.
  • In areas like the ED where time is critical, utilizing a web camera and adding an extra step in the workflow is impractical and inefficient.

Criteria that Defines an Effective Biometric Patient ID Solution

In addition to the points mentioned above and the standard questions that should be asked when researching the adoption of a biometric patient ID solution, we recommend that healthcare providers seriously consider the unique value of a platform like RightPatient® that seamlessly captures patient photos and identifies patients in a single step during registration, subsequent visits to a medical facility, and other touchpoints along the care continuum. This establishes a concrete, two-factor audit trail of patient visit activity and identity assurance.

Verify that the biometric patient ID solution offers the following patient photo capture features:

  • Convenience – Is the patient photo capture process easy and convenient for patients and staff? Photo capture should happen simultaneously with capturing their biometric credentials and should be fast. Otherwise, you run into delays and registration roadblocks in areas like the emergency room where time is of the essence.
  • Seamless integration and functionality – Patient identification and photo capture should be a seamless part of EHR workflow and not require staff to sign in and out of applications or constantly toggle between applications. 
  • Affordability – Biometric patient ID platforms that offer simultaneous photo capture should be flexible and affordable and offer a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model option.

Conclusion

Capturing patient photos to increase safety and reduce medical costs is not a new concept in healthcare, yet it has failed to become mainstream compared to other industries. In fact, according to a recent report from the ECRI, despite the proven research that photos increase safety and engagement, only 20% of existing providers currently use patient photos. 20%! Think about that in the context of other industries that have used customer photos as part of their routine identification security protocols for years: membership management (e.g. gyms, fitness clubs), banking and finance, retail, education, government — the list is long.

If other industries have relied on the use of photos to augment identification accuracy, why is healthcare so far behind the curve? It seems as if healthcare market conditions and current and future initiatives to improve delivery, achieve better outcomes, perfect individual and population health, and reduce the cost of care are setting the stage for technology that can quickly and seamlessly capture patient photos as part of the identification process. The question is, are you investing in the right solution to harness this power?

using patient photos to increase patient safety in healthcareMichael Trader is President and Co-Founder of RightPatient®. Michael is responsible for overseeing business development and marketing activities, government outreach, and for providing senior leadership on business and policy issues.

 

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How to Choose the Right Biometric Modality for Patient ID in Healthcare

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The following post on patient ID in healthcare was submitted by Michael Trader, Co-Founder and President of RightPatient®

We are excited to announce the release of a brand new white paper entitled: Choosing the Most Effective Biometric Solution for Patient Identification in Healthcare (Assessing the characteristics and capabilities of biometric options). The white paper assesses the capabilities and limitations of fingerprint, palm vein, and photo biometrics (iris and facial recognition) for patient ID in healthcare.

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Misinformation and confusion surrounding biometric patient ID hardware modalities are cleared up in our latest white paper.

The journey to select the most suitable biometric modality for patient identification in healthcare should include an assessment of hardware capabilities and limitations. This white paper was written and published as an educational resource for healthcare organizations to develop a deeper understanding of device characteristics and limitations. Due to persistent misinformation about the ability of select biometric modalities to perform accurate patient ID in healthcare and confusion on the realities of real world results post implementation we feel that this white paper stands as an authoritative guide that should be included in any and all comprehensive due diligence of biometrics.

Over 14 years of experience in real world implementations of fingerprint, palm vein, and photo biometrics has provided us with a wealth of knowledge and research on how these modalities operate when deployed and an authoritative resource to determine which devices can deliver on the promise that effective patient ID solutions offer:

  • Elimination of duplicate medical records and overlays
  • Prevention of medical ID theft and healthcare fraud
  • Increasing and sustaining patient data integrity
  • Increasing patient safety
  • Providing accurate patient ID at ANY point along the care continuum

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Did you know that select biometric modalities covered in the white paper do not have the ability to accomplish some of these goals? We encourage you to contact us and request your copy of this important and informative white paper to provide a more thorough background and understanding of biometric patient identification realities versus marketing fluff.

We are confident that you will find value in our research and analysis based on a decade and a half of experience in the biometric identification management industry and extensive experience with all of the modalities covered in the white paper. Please click here to request a copy of the research report. 

rightpatient intrepid healthcare about current state of patient identification in healthcare podcastsMichael Trader is President and Co-Founder of RightPatient®. Michael is responsible for overseeing business development and marketing activities, government outreach, and for providing senior leadership on business and policy issues.

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Why Experience Matters When Selecting a Biometric Patient Identification Solution

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The following post was submitted by Jeremy Floyd, Healthcare Director with RightPatient®

“The only source of knowledge is experience.” — Albert Einstein

Investing in health IT technology is a complex process which often involves evaluating multiple vendor solutions before ultimately deciding to make an investment. Steering committees and hospital evaluation teams take meticulous care to carefully assess the pros and cons of each solution to determine the best fit for their organization. One key vendor attribute that should be included in the evaluation process is experience. However, the reality of health IT today is that a large swath of health IT technologies are brand new, borne from the massive shift to digital healthcare spurred by the HITECH Act and Meaningful Use. Consequently, many vendors don’t have a substantial track record of experience in their speciality to evaluate because their solutions are brand new and only recently entered the market. 

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Evaluating experience is an important factor when deciding which biometric patient identification solution to implement.

I am often asked at trade shows and conventions about our experience in biometrics and how that shaped our strategy when we developed RightPatient® – the healthcare industry’s most comprehensive patient identification solution that increases patient safety, reduces costs, improves the quality of care, and enhances the patient experience. People want to know how our past experience and long track record in global biometric identification management projects helped shape our patient identification platform and what lessons we learned from other verticals where biometrics is used that we were able to incorporate into RightPatient®. My answer is always the same…experience in biometrics matters. A lot. Here’s why:

— Experience breeds innovation – When we embarked on the journey to develop a biometric patient identification solution for the healthcare industry, we carefully studied our past experience with biometric deployments in different verticals (border control, voter registration, law enforcement, workforce management, national ID, financial services, single sign-on) to determine what we could learn from their success that would be integral ingredients for RightPatient®. The ability and flexibility to innovate jumped out as one of the most important deployment characteristics we knew RightPatient® needed – in other words, the ability to innovate as a patient identification vendor by consistently improving our platform to addresses the dynamic, and constantly evolving needs of the industry. 

For example, we identified the growing concern from hospital staff about the need to develop a wireless camera to identify patients bedside, or in special situations (e.g. handicapped patients) – a device unencumbered by USB cables and free from the often crowded workstation on wheels (WOW). We listened to customer feedback, leveraged our technological expertise in biometrics, and developed a wireless camera with a sleek, modern design and touchscreen interface combined with fast photo capture and identification.

Innovation helps bring continuity to the fragmented healthcare market. It is the responsibility of any healthcare technology vendor to consistently cultivate new ideas that are a direct response to the evolving challenges healthcare systems face.  

— Experience brings variety – The ability to offer a choice of biometric hardware modalities for hospitals to use is another great example of how our experience in biometrics reminded us that this is not a “one-size-fits-all” technology. Offering a choice of biometric modalities to use for patient identification is important because although most biometric hardware devices work reliably on a large percentage of the population, factors such as skin integrity, age, and ethnicity can negatively affect the ability of these devices to capture biometric attributes for 100% of the patient population.

In addition, the use of a single biometric modality for patient identification in the modern healthcare age ignores the reality that effective patient ID must be looked at holistically, and technology implemented simply must have the ability to identify patients at ANY point along the care continuum – whether that is in person at a hospital or in a virtual environment such as a telemedicine or using a patient portal.  Instead of pigeonholing hospitals into using one modality, instead we offer a variety of modalities that can be used simultaneously to meet the new demands of accurate patient identification.

— Experience makes system integration seamless: 13 years of experience in biometrics has provided us with deep experience and expertise in system integration. Experience that taught us the importance of developing pre-built integrations of RightPatient® for various healthcare systems like Epic, Cerner®, Meditech, McKesson, and IBM Initiate® to becomes a seamless part of the provider workflow and maximize operational efficiency. Based on our track record developing biometric identification systems around the world, we understand that hospital IT staff is stretched thin with myriad responsibilities and commitments so we handle a majority of the pre-configuration and deployment logistics prior to go live that helps reduce the burden on hospital resources. Experience taught us that just like any other technology deployment, health systems who invest in biometrics for patient identification want a seamless experience that does not waste internal resources and a platform that instantly becomes a part of staff workflow.

Does experience matter when selecting a biometric patient identification vendor? Absolutely. Our dedicated team of scientific engineers and technologists deliver over 20 years of combined experience in healthcare, biometric technology, cloud applications, system integration, high-performance computing, and human factor engineering, ensuring that you will always be provided with innovative, scalable, and practical solutions that are the best possible fit for your needs.

Learn more about how we are leading the biometric patient identification market through creative innovation by visiting our Web site.

biometric patient identificationJeremy has worked in the biometrics industry for nearly a decade and has real world experience with fingerprint, palm vein, finger vein, iris and face recognition technologies. He currently oversees the RightPatient™ Healthcare division of M2SYS Technology, including sales, business development and project management. Before taking over the Healthcare unit, Jeremy spearheaded the growth of the core biometrics division, working closely with Fortune 500 clients like ADP, JP Morgan & BAE Systems to implement biometrics in large identity management projects.

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Improving Mobile Patient Identification with Wireless Technology

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Patient Identification isn’t Cookie Cutter

You know the drill. A trauma patient is whisked into the emergency room bypassing the normal registration process to receive immediate care. Despite the patient’s condition, you as a patient registration representative are still responsible for establishing the patient’s identity, verifying their insurance eligibility, and ensuring that services rendered are allocated to the proper electronic medical record so the hospital can maintain high levels of data integrity and secure accurate revenue cycle compensation. Or, perhaps a handicap or disabled patient arrives at your facility and you may have to adjust normal registration procedures to compensate for their condition which may involve approaching the patient in the waiting room instead of asking them to approach you. 

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Particularly in emergency situations, wireless biometric patient identification devices offer convenience and portability to ensure patient safety.

The following post was submitted by Brad Marshall, Enterprise Development Consultant with RightPatient®

Whatever the case may be, some hospitals that have implemented biometrics for patient identification now have the ability to use a wireless camera to identify a patient at bedside or in-person, adding registration flexibility and removing the need to deal with the often cumbersome tangle of wires, USB cables, and devices on computers on wheels (COWs) or workstation on wheels (WOWs).  These hospitals understand that wireless, portable patient identification offers distinct advantages to quickly identify patients with special conditions without the restrictions of a USB connection that may limit mobility and waste valuable time. 

The Flexibility of Free Standing Patient Identification in ED or Bedside

The ability to quickly, easily, and accurately identify patients in emergency situations can often be the difference between life and death. Think about identifying an unconscious or unknown patient who arrives in the Emergency Department (ED) with a long medical history that includes medication allergies or important pre-existing conditions. Treating a patient in the absence of this critical health data not only endangers their health, but it presents a huge liability to the hospital should something go wrong based on missing or incomplete information. Not to mention that fact that in healthcare, especially in emergency situations, seconds matter.

Patient registration staff and clinicians both need the convenience and portability of a wireless biometric patient identification device that can be used to quickly determine a patient’s identity at any physical touchpoint along the care continuum. Think for a moment about the importance of verifying a patient’s identity at bedside. Accurate patient identification is not only an important safety protocol, but it also offers a variety of other benefits including:

Innovative wireless patient identification devices increase productivity by saving time without compensating accuracy during the registration process. Characterized by their mobility and efficiency, these devices are configured to seamlessly communicate with biometric patient identification systems integrated with electronic health record (EHR) platforms to ensure 100% accuracy.

Conclusion

Wireless devices are revolutionizing patient identification in healthcare by combining the speed and accuracy of biometrics with a convenient and portable design that eliminates the frustration of maneuvering cumbersome COWs and WOWs and the restrictions of USB connected devices. Specifically designed to ensure patient safety, lower hospital liability, and strengthen and sustain patient data integrity, wireless patient identification devices almost seem to be a “must have” for any hospital that is vested in ensuring the highest quality care, especially amid challenging conditions. 

Interested in learning more? Drop us a note and we will be happy to set up a no obligation demo to show you firsthand how these devices operate, and provide more details about the advantages.

Brad Marshall works for RightPatient - the industry's best biometric patient identification solution.Brad Marshall is an Enterprise Development Consultant with RightPatient®. With several years of experience implementing both large and small scale biometric patient identification projects in healthcare, Brad works closely with key hospital executives and front line staff to ensure project success.

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Iris Recognition Offers Non-Contact, Hygienic Individual Identification

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The following guest post was written by Brian Bilia, Enterprise Sales Consultant with RightPatient®

More Schools Using Non-Contact Biometrics for Individual Identification

In case you missed it, this week Virginia Commonwealth University announced the implementation of iris recognition in their on-campus dining halls for student identification. In addition to presenting a safer and more secure way to identify students the deployment according to the article, the initiative is designed to be:

“…helpful for students who forget or lose their IDs over the weekend, as there is not a way to get a replacement card over the weekend.” (USA Today, “New iris cameras at Va. school scan students’ eyes for entry into dining hall” http://usat.ly/1L4cbWb)

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If schools adopt iris biometrics for student ID based on it’s non-contact, hygienic form factor, shouldn’t the healthcare industry offer the same protection to patients?

The article goes on to report that one of the main reasons Virginia Commonwealth and another schools chose to deploy iris recognition was because of its non-contact, hygienic feature:

“VCU is following in the steps of other schools — including George Mason University — which introduced the eye scanning system last year. Both schools opted for the this non-contact form of biometric technology — as opposed to a fingerprint scanner — because it is less invasive and won’t spread germs.” (USA Today, “New iris cameras at Va. school scan students’ eyes for entry into dining hall” http://usat.ly/1L4cbWb)

Essentially, hygiene played a critical role in determining which biometric modality the school would use for student identification. Due to the fact that iris recognition does not require physical contact with a biometric device, it presents one of the most hygienic hardware options available, keeping end users safe from the spread of germs and illness that could otherwise be a risk when using a contact dependent modality such as fingerprint or palm vein recognition. The fact that schools continue to adopt iris recognition for identification due to it’s hygienic, non-contact features begs the question — shouldn’t hospitals adopting biometric patient identification tools be investigating non-contact biometric modalities too?

Non-Contact, Hygienic Biometric Patient ID in Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, patient safety is the #1 priority. Rising conscientiousness about new strategies to keep patients safe rise combined with the explosion of digital health tools has pushed hospitals to re-assess hospital acquired condition (HAC) control policies and implement new platforms and monitoring programs that provide a safer and more hygienic environment for patient care. In addition, new policies by Medicare now penalize hospitals with high HAC rates raising the level of urgency to adopt digital health tools that support hospital infection control policies.

In lockstep with the urgency to increase patient safety in any possible way, hospitals and healthcare organizations are quickly catching on to the benefits of using biometrics for patient identification as a means to increase patient safety but what they are also discovering is that not all biometric hardware modalities have the ability to offer a non-contact, hygienic experience. Biometric hardware that requires physical contact by a patient can be interpreted as non-hygienic and raises the risk of HAC’s if the device is not properly sanitized after each use. Even when properly sanitized, these devices still pose a threat to patient safety due to the fact that cleaning agents do not have the ability to remove 100% of germs or bacteria.

Upon further research, healthcare entities learn that using iris recognition for patient identification in healthcare offers the use of an iris camera that a patient does not touch, helping to support hospital infection control policies and ensure that no one is susceptible to germs or bacteria that could cause an infection or illness. 

Patient Acceptance is Key

Despite the advantages of using iris recognition for patient ID in healthcare, certain stigmas exist about this technology that may make a healthcare organization hesitant to adopt. Many feel that iris recognition is too invasive and beams visible light into a patient’s eyes to determine their identity. In reality, iris recognition is often confused with retinal scanning which does use visible light for identification. Iris recognition instead uses camera technology with subtle infrared illumination to acquire images of the detail-rich, intricate structures of the iris. It’s 100% safe, and our field research has proven that patients are overwhelmingly accepting of using iris recognition for identification when presented with the option to protect them from duplicate medical records, fraud, and medical ID theft. 

Plus, iris recognition for patient ID offers other benefits such as the ability to identify unconscious or unknown patients and is built on one-to-many matching, the only true way to prevent duplicate medical records and medical identity theft in healthcare. 

Conclusion

Iris recognition has proven to be one of the most popular biometric modalities for individual identification for a number of reasons, including it’s non-contact, hygienic form factor that protects end users from germs and bacteria that otherwise exist on alternative biometric hardware devices. Hygiene has a rising influence in determining which hardware modality is utilized in  biometric identification management projects, and the advantages of using iris recognition biometrics has positioned the technology for strong adoption growth in the years to come.

How important is hygiene to you when selecting a biometric hardware modality?

biometric patient identification using iris recognition

Brian joined RightPatient in July 2015 as Enterprise Sales Consultant for the Midwest Region. Prior to RightPatient, Brian held several roles in sales management and new business development achieving over 15 years of experience working with the healthcare/hospital industry. 

cleaning an iris camera for patient identification in healthcare

How to Properly Clean an Iris Camera

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cleaning an iris camera for patient identification in healthcare
cleaning an iris camera for patient identification in healthcare

As more hospitals adopt iris recognition for patient identification, it is important to establish a hardware maintenance initiative to maximize return on investment.

The following guest post was submitted by Joe Kubilius, Director of Product & Process Management at RightPatient®

Advantages of using iris recognition

The use of iris recognition for patient identification in healthcare is rising fast. When hospitals are presented with hardware modality options for deployment, most choose to use iris recognition for these distinct advantages:

1. Hygienic/Non-Invasive – Iris cameras do not require physical patient contact to capture biometric credentials, ensuring a safe, hygienic environment and drastically lowering the risk of patients acquiring hospital borne illness through the spread of germs and bacteria. In addition, no visible lights or lasers are used when capturing a patient’s biometric credential – they simply have their picture taken.

2. Accuracy – Iris recognition is widely considered to be the most accurate form of biometrics across the entire industry. The iris offers more detailed input when constructing biometric enrollment templates than fingerprints or facial recognition and represents one of if not the most unique biometric credential of the human body. The chances of two people having the same iris pattern is 10⁷⁸! Plus, iris recognition relies on one to many biometric matching — the only true way to prevent duplicate medical records/overlays, identify unconscious patients, and prevent medical identity theft and fraud at the point of enrollment.

3. Stability: Did you know that the human iris completely forms at 10 months of age and remains stable throughout your life? Just about every other human biometric attribute can change over time which has a negative impact on system performance and possibly requiring frequent re-enrollment. 

4. Speed – Iris recognition is extremely fast, typically returning results in 3 seconds or less even for databases containing millions of records.

As hospitals increase their use of iris recognition, it’s important to remember that hardware maintenance is key to maximizing ROI and avoiding hardware replacement costs. Responsible investments in biometric solutions requires establishing an ongoing hardware maintenance initiative to ensure longevity and optimal system performance.

How to clean an iris camera

Even though patients do not come into direct contact with an iris camera, staff may have limited positioning contact with the device to ensure it properly captures quality photographs. Plus, considering the fact that these devices are used in a healthcare environment, patients or staff may accidentally sneeze or cough on or near the camera causing a need to disinfect. What’s important to remember is that these devices are digital cameras and just like any other biometric hardware device used within a hospital setting, need periodic maintenance to ensure optimal performance. Here are the proper steps to clean an iris camera:

Materials Needed:

  • Use either a 70%~83% Ethanol mix solution or 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) as the cleaning agent
  • Only use a microfiber cloth to clean the camera

Steps:

  • Apply a small amount of ethanol to microfiber cloth and wipe with care but do not rub too hard
  • Wipe camera with a dry microfiber cloth

Cautions:

  • Rubbing with pure alcohol could run the risk of removing the paint or finish from the camera
  • Do not use disinfection medicine with Benzene, Methanol and Acetone as a cleaning solution on the camera

Conclusion

Properly maintaining biometric hardware is key to maximizing ROI and eliminates fees for replacement cameras. Plus, to achieve optimal system performance that ensures patient enrollment success and 100% identification accuracy requires ongoing maintenance that includes cleaning the iris camera when needed. We hope these tips have been helpful!

Director of Product & Process ManagementJoe Kubilius is Director of Product and Process Management with RightPatient®. With over 10 years of experience in the design, development, and implementation of biometric identity management solutions, Joe has been integral to the success of hundreds of large and small scale deployments across the globe.

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fingerprints can be used to identify patients in healthcare

The Advantages of Dual vs. Single Fingerprints for Patient ID in Healthcare

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fingerprints can be used to identify patients in healthcare

Fingerprints for Patient ID

One of the hallmarks of an efficient and value-added biometric patient identification vendor is its ability to offer a choice of biometric modalities to deploy. If you prefer to use fingerprints for biometric patient identification, there are some important factors to consider when assessing hardware to ensure patients can be easily enrolled and accurately identified. Fingerprint biometrics has evolved over the years, and there are many new scanners available that offer distinct advantages over legacy models, most notably the use of dual finger scanners over single image capture devices.

Let’s explore why dual fingerprint scanners pose a greater advantage for patient identification in healthcare.

fingerprints can be used to identify patients in healthcare

Considering the use of fingerprints for patient ID in healthcare? More hospitals are evaluating the advantages of dual fingerprints over single image capture devices.

Dual vs. Single Fingerprinting

Is there a difference? Absolutely. Deciding to use a dual vs. a single fingerprint reader for patient ID in healthcare is a smart decision for several reasons:

1. Higher accuracy & reliability: Dual fingerprint readers have the ability to capture two single prints simultaneously, offering enhanced accuracy for identification and verification versus single-finger scanners. A two fingerprint scanner is also more effective at guiding a patient to scan consistently. Patients can touch a single finger in various ways which could lead to more frequent cases of false-no-matches. However, with dual fingerprint readers, patients can’t make these scanning inconsistency mistakes because the device will not return a match (or non-match) unless fingers are properly placed on the scanner.

use dual fingerprint readers for patient identification in healthcare

Dual fingerprint readers offer many more advantages than single image devices including higher accuracy and reliability.

2. Eligibility: Since approximately 10% of the patient population can’t consistently provide high-quality images for enrollment or identification, adding a second finger to a biometric template decreases the percentage of patients who are unable to successfully use fingerprints for identification. Skin integrity can be affected by factors such as age, environment, and working conditions and is an important factor for the success off a biometric fingerprint patient ID deployment. Remember, the end goal for any biometric patient identification deployment is to enroll as many patients as possible to maximize system value, so the fewer patients that are eligible to enroll, the higher the risks are for misidentification which can lead to duplicate medical records/overlays, medical ID theft, fraud — all direct threats to patient safety. 

Plus, dual fingerprint readers are considered to be more effective devices to read dry, blurred, wet, damaged, or scarred fingers that diverse patient populations can have.

3. Durability: Most dual fingerprint readers are designed and built to be versatile hardware devices with durability to be used in high throughput environments such as healthcare that can endure long-term heavy use before the end of their life cycle. Single fingerprint readers have a shorter shelf life, and must be replaced more often due to their less durable construction.

4. Affordability: Despite their clear advantages over single image fingerprint readers dual fingerprint readers remain affordable hardware devices for patient ID in healthcare. Dual fingerprint readers for patient ID in healthcare also retain a small form factor to allow their affordable, widespread distribution throughout a health network.

5. Versatility:  Dual fingerprint scanners enjoy the same versatility as single print devices to be deployed in a host of different environments including use with mobile devices, an increasingly important environment to ensure accurate patient ID along the entire care continuum. 

Curious to see a dual fingerprint reader in action? Take a look at this demo video to learn more about their advantages and how they work:

Considering the use of fingerprints for patient ID? What other questions do you have that we can answer?