Biometrics Providing Secure Access To Electronic Medical Records

  • Feb 18, 2011

BIO-key International Inc. and Lumidigm Inc. have partnered to provide a strong authentication solution for e-prescriptions at Genesis HealthCare System. Today, Genesis HealthCare is utilizing BIO-key’s biometric identification software with Lumidigm fingerprint sensors so staff may quickly, conveniently and securely establish identity when ordering, verifying or administering medications as required by Ohio law.

Genesis HealthCare System, based in Zanesville Ohio, is a not-for-profit organization that operates two hospital sites -- Genesis-Bethesda and Genesis-Good Samaritan -- in Zanesville, Ohio, and several affiliated health care organizations across a six-county region of southeastern Ohio. For years, doctors and pharmacists in Ohio have been required to use two-factor authentication when electronically prescribing controlled substances and as of June 2010, the DEA has also mandated two-factor authentication for electronically prescribing controlled substances nationwide. Genesis HealthCare is able to meet these requirements using BIO-key’s biometric fingerprint identification software and Lumidigm biometric sensors.

Currently, 2,000 clinicians and staff are using BIO-key fingerprint biometrics leveraging Lumidigm multispectral imaging sensors to establish their identity in Genesis’s Epic software to order, verify or administer medications.

In the next phase of this project, Genesis will be implementing fingerprint biometric user logon with Vergence, a single sign-on solution from Sentillion, a Microsoft company. With these solutions in place, Genesis staff members will instantly establish their identity with the simple touch of a finger, even when wearing latex gloves.

This BIO-key identification solution, in conjunction with Lumidigm readers, is integrated with all major electronic medical records (EMR) software suites, including Epic and Allscript’s Enterprise EHR as well as major single sign-on (SSO) providers, including Microsoft’s Sentillion, Evidian, IBM, Oracle, CA and more.

“With BIO-key as our partner, we were able to be up and running from the initial inception in less than five months. A lot of vendors talk about being our partner; BIO-key didn’t talk, they delivered,” said Ed Romito, vice president and CIO of Genesis HealthCare. “Additionally, BIO-key’s ability to operate with every major fingerprint reader manufacturer allowed us to evaluate a variety of readers to determine which would work best in our environment. As a result of our testing, we determined that Lumidigm’s Mercury sensor provided us with the best performance, including the ability for our staff working in isolation rooms to establish their identity when wearing latex gloves”

“Individual physicians frequently sign tens if not hundreds of prescriptions daily. With BIO-key fingerprint identification and Lumidigm sensors, this process is more secure, faster and extremely convenient, compared to the other two-factor alternatives,” said Mike DePasquale, CEO of BIO-key International. “With BIO-key’s ability to operate on mobile platforms including tablets and smart phones combined with the capabilities and value that Lumidigm’s multispectral imaging technology brings to our customers, other markets will also be able to benefit from our partnership.”

“Because skin dryness is so prevalent in the healthcare industry, due in part to constant hand washing, traditional fingerprint sensors can produce up to a twenty percent failure rate,” saidBill Spence, Lumidigm vice president of transaction systems. “In other situations, when the policy allows it, healthcare workers wearing latex gloves do not want to remove them to use the biometric reader. Lumidigm’s Mercury Series multispectral fingerprint sensors capture fingerprint data beneath the surface of the skin so that dryness or gloves create no problems for reliable reads.”

Featured

  • From Surveillance to Intelligence

    Years ago, it would have been significantly more expensive to run an analytic like that — requiring a custom-built solution with burdensome infrastructure demands — but modern edge devices have made it accessible to everyone. It also saves time, which is a critical factor if a missing child is involved. Video compression technology has played a critical role as well. Over the years, significant advancements have been made in video coding standards — including H.263, MPEG formats, and H.264—alongside compression optimization technologies developed by IP video manufacturers to improve efficiency without sacrificing quality. The open-source AV1 codec developed by the Alliance for Open Media—a consortium including Google, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and others — is already the preferred decoder for cloud-based applications, and is quickly becoming the standard for video compression of all types. Read Now

  • Cost: Reactive vs. Proactive Security

    Security breaches often happen despite the availability of tools to prevent them. To combat this problem, the industry is shifting from reactive correction to proactive protection. This article will examine why so many security leaders have realized they must “lead before the breach” – not after. Read Now

  • Achieving Clear Audio

    In today’s ever-changing world of security and risk management, effective communication via an intercom and door entry communication system is a critical communication tool to keep a facility’s staff, visitors and vendors safe. Read Now

  • Beyond Apps: Access Control for Today’s Residents

    The modern resident lives in an app-saturated world. From banking to grocery delivery, fitness tracking to ridesharing, nearly every service demands another download. But when it comes to accessing the place you live, most people do not want to clutter their phone with yet another app, especially if its only purpose is to open a door. Read Now

  • Survey: 48 Percent of Worshippers Feel Less Safe Attending In-Person Services

    Almost half (48%) of those who attend religious services say they feel less safe attending in-person due to rising acts of violence at places of worship. In fact, 39% report these safety concerns have led them to change how often they attend in-person services, according to new research from Verkada conducted online by The Harris Poll among 1,123 U.S. adults who attend a religious service or event at least once a month. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.