Leading emergency department information system uses U.are.U fingerprint readers
Leading emergency department information system uses U.are.U fingerprint readers
DigitalPersona, a provider in fingerprint identity and authentication solutions, announced its customer, Picis, has realized a high level of success in security and privacy protection for its Picis ED PulseCheck Emergency Department Information System (EDIS), which incorporates DigitalPersona's U.are.U Fingerprint Readers and One Touch for Windows Software Development Kit (SDK). Picis, a provider of information solutions that help increase patient satisfaction, improve clinicians' access to patient information and optimize organizational efficiency in the acute care areas within hospitals, chose DigitalPersona products to help emergency department (ED) personnel eliminate the need to remember passwords to access patient data. Since biometrically enabling ED PulseCheck, nearly 150 hospitals in the U.S. and Canada have implemented fingerprint authentication for quick and secure access to information while helping to comply with privacy regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Picis ED PulseCheck, part of the CareSuite family of high-acuity solutions, provides clinicians with electronic documentation, risk management and patient tracking in the emergency department. “It is used in dynamic environments where easy, secure access to applications is critical,” said Todd Winey, Director of Alliance Partnerships for Picis. “When treating patients in the emergency department, the medical staff may not have time to call the help desk for a forgotten password. By adding DigitalPersona fingerprint authentication we were able to offer secure access with just one touch.”
The doctors, nurses and hospital staff must routinely access a number of applications with many different usernames and passwords. Remembering usernames and passwords can be challenging, especially in a high-pressure environment, such as the ED that operates around the clock. With fingerprint biometrics, ED PulseCheck frees users from having to remember or type a password. Instead, they simply place their finger on a U.are.U fingerprint reader. This helps prevent unauthorized medical staff from accessing confidential patient data, and also links users specifically to their actions.
“Biometrics adoption is increasing as more organizations look to boost accountability, simplify compliance with state and federal regulations and streamline access to confidential data,” said Jim Fulton, VP of Marketing at DigitalPersona. “In a hospital environment, traditional authentication tools, such as usernames and passwords, can potentially impede workflow and reduce the quality of patient care. DigitalPersona technology enables secure access with just the touch of a finger.”