Danish Biometrics enters into an agreement with Copenhagen Hospital Corporation about testing, research and development on biometric recognition.
Biometric recognition is a science and technology for authentication (identification/ verification) of a human being based on the human beings own (unchangeable) physiological or behavioural characteristics (e.g. fingerprint, iris, gait or DNA). Many experts consider Biometrics to be the most innovative IT-technology in the last decade.
The objective of the agreement is to result in solutions for secure log-on procedures when doctors and nurses for instance are entering the Electronic Patient Records (EPR) as part of their daily routines.
High security needs (tracking) and privacy rules are required as EPR contains information about health which is regarded as Sentitive Personal Data. At the same time hospital staff must have quick and effective access to the case record and the patient data which are needed due to the treatment.
Biometrics is an approach to solve both challenges at the same time. An operation which can be perfomed within 1-2 seconds with the use of a single finger touch, iris scanning or maybe another biometric option would provide an advantage for the staff. Simultaneously the process ensures access to the right person as the biometric identifier is unique between individuals.
An important part of the solution would be to integrate biometrics into existing IT Architecture with Single Sign On (SSO) and demand for convergence. The joint venture is to be continued after 1th January 2007 within the responsibility of the new Region Hovedstaden as stipulated in the agreement.
” I am very enthusiastic about the joint venture between Danish Biometrics and such a huge and important Organization as Hovedstadens Sygehusfællesskab”, says Director Frederik Kortbæk, Chairman of the Board of Danish Biometrics. “ It’s a great challenge for us and we and our co-partners will indeed live up to the confidence that H:S has shown to us quite visionary.
The project involves the biggest pilots and further research on biometrics ever seen in Denmark before and has interesting international perspectives as to EPR.
On sight a biometric log-on system could be extended to other parts of the Health Care System, e.g. homecare service, general practitioners, pharmacies and last not least in relation to each individual patient for the use of a multi-service smart card with the biometric data of each individual stored in the microchip.
I am aware of that the EU Commission already has shown interest in the joint-venture and it´s potential. I have the strongest opinion that Danish Biometrics is a unique Organization of Universities and private companies, who will be able to complete this exciting task successfully and the Consortium is ready to contribute to the Danish dream of creating a super system for hospitals in international context as far as for example security in EPR is concerned”.
For further information please contact Mr. Frederik Kortbæk, Telephone + 45 2625 4550 – mail: fk@danishbiometrics.org
About Hovedstadens Sygehusfællesskab
H:S today manages 6 hospitals among others Rigshospitalet the biggest hospital in Denmark with over 7000 employees. As of 1. January 2007 in connection with a new Danish structural reform Copenhagen Hospital Corporation will be part of Region Hovedstaden to be the biggest hospital system in Denmark with approx. 30.000 employees, a capacity of almost 6000 beds to serve a region with over 1.6 mill Citizens.
About Danish Biometrics
Danish Biometrics is the biggest biometrics research consortium and network in Scandinavia with almost 30 members from at home and abroad among others Aalborg University, IT University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark, Risø National Laboratory, Roskilde University, The Innovation Council, Confederation of Danish Industries, Precise Biometrics, Siemens, Steria, Unisys, International Biometric Group and Quard Technology.
