Although biometrics at BayCare Health Systems helps reduce risk by properly identifying patients at registration, what aspect of their system opens them up to a different area of risk?

Why would a “non-patient” want to enroll in the BayCare system?

Does BayCare’s PSI system hold too much information? Does linking patient data to BayCare’s 10 locations infringe on privacy?

What risk does BayCare run by collecting such a large amount of private patient information and transmitting it between their 10 locations?

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Biometrics Gives Healthcare a Hand Correct identification (ID) of a patient, as elementary a task as it sounds, is the leading cause of medical errors as determined by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Misidentifying patients can lead to an array of unwanted events including medical identity theft and insurance fraud, where either patients share insurance cards or providers submit false claims. Sometimes misidentification can be due to simple clerical errors, technological failures, or even dishonest patients misrepresenting their identity. Whatever the cause, a positive patient identification (PPID) system is now the standard in healthcare facilities. Multiple options are available to solve the healthcare industry's patient misidentification troubles. At the point of registration, patients need two key documents: a valid form of identification such as a driver's license and their insurance card. The information from these documents is crucial to the patient receiving the proper medical treatments and for insurance billing information. However, an issue arises when clerks must manually copy down all the information into the patient's electronic record, a time- consuming task that can result in human errors. The best solution for streamlining the digitalization of patient data is a dedicated, high-resolution card scanner. The best scanners take pictures of the cards and then upload them to the patient's electronic medical record (EMR). The technology is being used at IntraHealth Group where a scanner has turned recording patient data into a "scan-and-click operation." High-resolution card scanners reduce patient registration times and allow staff members to focus more on the individual health concerns of the patient. The out-of-the-box systems require virtually no maintenance, set-up, or training. Additionally, the scanner prevents unsecured copies of important documents from having to be made. Dedicated, high- resolution scanners are one way to decrease patient misidentification and various associated forms of healthcare fraud. The most advanced solutions implemented to combat patient misidentification are systems that rely on biometrics. At BayCare Health Systems in Tampa, Florida, palm-vein recognition technology is used to streamline and secure patient processing. Palm-vein biometrics work by shining a near-infrared light on the patient's hand which penetrates the outer layer of skin but reflects off deoxygenated blood. Simply put, the patient's veins are highlighted to present a pattern unique to that individual. Palm-vein technology has been proven to be just as accurate if not more accurate than iris-scanning technology. In comparative testing conducted by the International Biometrics Group (IBG), palm-vein technology exhibited significantly low rates of both false positive and false negative readings. By ensuring a near-zero enrollment failure, palm-vein technology is compatible with essentially all patients. This technology is integrated with EMR and registration systems in order to address the patient identification issues. BayCare updated their electronic medical records system to make it compatible with the palm-vein biometric technology. When a palm-vein reading is taken, it is sent directly to a patient's EMR. The combined system is referred to as Patient Secure Identity (PSI) and offers several business and health- related benefits. First and foremost is patient safety. With the PSI system, duplicate medical records are eliminated and overlays prevented, thus ensuring doctors that the medical records in their hands are comprehensive, accurate, and not those of anyone else. On the front end, biometric readings forgo the need to transmit sensitive information at registration such as a Social Security number. BayCare's PSI system was launched only 60 days after the project initiation and was fully implemented within six months at all BayCare hospitals, outpatient centers, and outreach lab locations. The PSI system is linked to all BayCare locations. Once a patient is in the system, that patient can be correctly identified at any one of BayCare's ten healthcare locations whether it is a hospital, clinic, or imaging center, just by scanning their hand. BayCare's PSI system with biometric palm- vein identification has successfully fulfilled BayCare Health System's concern about ensuring patient safety and preventing identity theft and fraud. PPID is a difficult yet crucial task for healthcare facilities. In order for healthcare providers to best execute their responsibilities, they need to address the patient's medical issues in a timely fashion, know who they are treating, and know the patient's medical history. Dedicated, high-resolution card scanners and biometrics linked to patient health records address these concerns, as well as decrease the ability for fraud to be committed. PPID systems are now a much-needed staple to a reputable healthcare facility's IT portfolio. Sources: Biometric technology verifies patients identity. (2010). Health Management Technology, 31(3), 20-21; Cunningham, B. (2012). Positive patient identification begins at step one. Health Management Technology, 33(8), 10-11. Thinking About the Case 1. Abbough.birourissa BaxCare Health SyUODE belps reduce risk by propedy identifying patiente Biometrics Gives Healthcare a Hand Correct identification (ID) of a patient, as elementary a task as it sounds, is the leading cause of medical errors as determined by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Misidentifying patients can lead to an array of unwanted events including medical identity theft and insurance fraud, where either patients share insurance cards or providers submit false claims. Sometimes misidentification can be due to simple clerical errors, technological failures, or even dishonest patients misrepresenting their identity. Whatever the cause, a positive patient identification (PPID) system is now the standard in healthcare facilities. Multiple options are available to solve the healthcare industry's patient misidentification troubles. At the point of registration, patients need two key documents: a valid form of identification such as a driver's license and their insurance card. The information from these documents is crucial to the patient receiving the proper medical treatments and for insurance billing information. However, an issue arises when clerks must manually copy down all the information into the patient's electronic record, a time- consuming task that can result in human errors. The best solution for streamlining the digitalization of patient data is a dedicated, high-resolution card scanner. The best scanners take pictures of the cards and then upload them to the patient's electronic medical record (EMR). The technology is being used at IntraHealth Group where a scanner has turned recording patient data into a "scan-and-click operation." High-resolution card scanners reduce patient registration times and allow staff members to focus more on the individual health concerns of the patient. The out-of-the-box systems require virtually no maintenance, set-up, or training. Additionally, the scanner prevents unsecured copies of important documents from having to be made. Dedicated, high- resolution scanners are one way to decrease patient misidentification and various associated forms of healthcare fraud. The most advanced solutions implemented to combat patient misidentification are systems that rely on biometrics. At BayCare Health Systems in Tampa, Florida, palm-vein recognition technology is used to streamline and secure patient processing. Palm-vein biometrics work by shining a near-infrared light on the patient's hand which penetrates the outer layer of skin but reflects off deoxygenated blood. Simply put, the patient's veins are highlighted to present a pattern unique to that individual. Palm-vein technology has been proven to be just as accurate if not more accurate than iris-scanning technology. In comparative testing conducted by the International Biometrics Group (IBG), palm-vein technology exhibited significantly low rates of both false positive and false negative readings. By ensuring a near-zero enrollment failure, palm-vein technology is compatible with essentially all patients. This technology is integrated with EMR and registration systems in order to address the patient identification issues. BayCare updated their electronic medical records system to make it compatible with the palm-vein biometric technology. When a palm-vein reading is taken, it is sent directly to a patient's EMR. The combined system is referred to as Patient Secure Identity (PSI) and offers several business and health- related benefits. First and foremost is patient safety. With the PSI system, duplicate medical records are eliminated and overlays prevented, thus ensuring doctors that the medical records in their hands are comprehensive, accurate, and not those of anyone else. On the front end, biometric readings forgo the need to transmit sensitive information at registration such as a Social Security number. BayCare's PSI system was launched only 60 days after the project initiation and was fully implemented within six months at all BayCare hospitals, outpatient centers, and outreach lab locations. The PSI system is linked to all BayCare locations. Once a patient is in the system, that patient can be correctly identified at any one of BayCare's ten healthcare locations whether it is a hospital, clinic, or imaging center, just by scanning their hand. BayCare's PSI system with biometric palm- vein identification has successfully fulfilled BayCare Health System's concern about ensuring patient safety and preventing identity theft and fraud. PPID is a difficult yet crucial task for healthcare facilities. In order for healthcare providers to best execute their responsibilities, they need to address the patient's medical issues in a timely fashion, know who they are treating, and know the patient's medical history. Dedicated, high-resolution card scanners and biometrics linked to patient health records address these concerns, as well as decrease the ability for fraud to be committed. PPID systems are now a much-needed staple to a reputable healthcare facility's IT portfolio. Sources: Biometric technology verifies patients identity. (2010). Health Management Technology, 31(3), 20-21; Cunningham, B. (2012). Positive patient identification begins at step one. Health Management Technology, 33(8), 10-11. Thinking About the Case 1. Abbough.birourissa BaxCare Health SyUODE belps reduce risk by propedy identifying patiente

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1 One aspect of BayCare Health System that could open them up to the different areas of risk is their use of palmvein recognition technology Palmvein ... View the full answer