IDNX,
William W. Backus Hospital Selects Identix' Biometric Security Solutions to Protect Patient RecordsFirst Customer to Deploy Identix Biometric Authentication Solutions With Wyse Technology Thin Client Solution
PR NEWSWIRE - January 16, 2002 09:25
LOS GATOS, Calif., Jan 16, 2002 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Identix Incorporated (Nasdaq: IDNX), the worldwide leader in providing fingerprint biometric authentication, security, and identification solutions, announced today that The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT has adopted its fingerprint biometric authentication and security solutions as part of what is expected to be a three-phase program to assist the hospital in securing multiple levels of security and access for patient records. Backus Hospital operates in a Wyse Technology thin client environment and is the first customer to deploy Identix' authentication solutions in a thin client environment. Under the first phase of the program, the Hospital has initially installed Identix BioTouch(TM) USB fingerprint readers with a 200-seat license for Identix BioLogon(R) software in patient care service stations within the hospital.
According to Hospital CIO Edward Fisher, the first phase in improving security and controlling access to patient records for Backus Hospital is to limit the number of individuals other than the direct caregivers who have direct access to confidential patient information. This includes such ancillary personnel as technicians, lab care specialists, environmental services and financial staff. Access to confidential patient records will be restricted via fingerprint authentication to only those peripheral caregivers and personnel who are working with the specific patient.
Fisher commented, "We believe that using biometrics to protect patient identifiable information from deliberate or inadvertent misuse is the first step to becoming HIPAA-ready. It is not necessary for all peripheral caregivers and personnel to have access to every patient's records. With Identix' biometric security applications, we can control access to only those individuals who will be treating that specific patient."
"We have been looking at deploying some sort of biometric authentication solution for more than a year," Fisher said, "but the inability of any solutions providers to interact with our Wyse thin client environment has hampered our progress. We began working with Identix about six months ago when we realized that they would be offering a Wyse thin client solution. We are very pleased with the ability of their biometric solutions to seamlessly operate in a thin client environment. We look forward to the added security, compliance and cost savings that we expect to receive from Identix' solutions."
Wyse Winterm thin clients access data residing on highly secure servers and do not store information on the devices themselves. Communication between the server and device is protected by 128-bit encryption, passwords and additional security layers such as Identix' fingerprint biometric authentication solutions.
Fisher expects that the second step in the Hospital's program will be to control access of the direct care providers to ensure that only the doctors and nurses assigned to a specific patient are able to access that patient's records. The Hospital wants to ensure that access to patient records is compliant with the up and coming HIPAA regulations. Fisher preliminarily anticipates that Phase two would rollout for the Hospital's Physicians and nurses within 12-18 months. The third Phase of the Hospital's program would involve utilizing Identix' biometric technology to identify the patient at the point of registration. The Hospital hopes to help eliminate possible fraud and misidentification of patients through biometric authentication.
Identix Executive Vice President Valerie Lyons commented, "We are pleased to be able to provide the strong authentication piece of the solution to assist Backus Hospital in complying with the pending HIPAA regulations regarding confidentiality of patient records. We believe we are the only fingerprint biometric authentication company with a thin client solution in the market today. In our opinion, thin client capability has the potential to add to our existing presence in the PC environment and we feel only serves to strengthen our leadership position in the fingerprint biometrics industry." |
