Smart cards are devices that contain an IC chip. The chip enables the card to store data and also allows applications to read the data. The use of smart cards helps in enhanced security and can be used to store confidential data such as patient records.

Smart cards are being increasingly used in many places. Healthcare organizations are using smart cards to store personal information and health records of patients. What earlier would require a file full of papers can now be saved in a small smart card.

Smart cards in healthcare

Bahaa Abdul Hadi says, “Healthcare institutions like clinics and hospitals can issue identity cards to patients. These identity cards would be smart cards with a chip in it. The card can be used to authenticate the identity of the patient. Most importantly, patient data can be stored on the card and retrieved when needed.”

The technology used ensures the data is stored safely and cannot be accessed by those who do not have the permission to do so. Once the card is issued, the patient information is stored. Subsequently, whenever the patient visits the institution the following data can be stored:

  • Patient health issues.
  • Prescription details.
  • Insurance related information.
  • Emergency contact information.
  • Appointments with details of date, doctor met, etc.
  • Data on test records of the patient

Bahaa Abdul Hadi explains how the smart cards work for patients as below:

The card issued to the patient would have their name and a unique identification number. It would also have the photo. There would be a PIN code that the patient can key in while using the card.

When the patient visits the doctor, the card is inserted into the card reader. The reader cannot access the data until the patient keys in the PIN. This ensures security and prevents unauthorized access to the data.

On completion of the consultation, the patient records can be saved on to the card. Apart from the PIN code, it is possible to have additional levels of security like biometric authentication (through fingerprint).

Benefits of smart cards

Using smart cards is beneficial for all stakeholders in the system. The benefits include:

  • The cards allow patient records to be stored electronically.
  • It helps in reducing paperwork and also reduces costs.
  • The admission process can be speeded up.
  • Medical identity theft is a problem that can be solved by using smart cards.
  • The process of insurance claims reimbursement can be expedited thanks to the use of smart card technology.

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