Smart cards have many uses in health care
Smart cards, which have only begun to make inroads in the United States, promise many useful applications throughout the health care system. Smart cards are credit card-sized plastic cards that store information using an embedded microcomputer chip.
Already used in Europe for limited health and insurance information storage, the cards are being used in a handful of U.S. hospitals to store medical records. Here are a few other ways the cards can be used in health care:
• In emergency situations.
The cards can be used by ambulance and emergency personnel to glean vital health information about patients unable to relay that information due to injury. Allergies, blood type, medications, next of kin, insurance carrier, and organ donor information could help in administering emergency medical care on the spot.
• To overcome language barriers.
For patients who are not fluent in English, the cards’ stored information can help alleviate potentially serious mistakes due to translation errors or misunderstandings.
• In pharmacies.
Pharmacists can view real-time information on patient medication and track trends in dosage and usage. They also can view allergy information instead of relying on patients’ sometimes faulty memories.
• By admitting/billing personnel.
Smart cards can store insurance coverage and reimbursement information as well as billing records, offering a faster, more efficient answer to common delays in receiving information.
• For hospital customer service.
Much like airline frequent flier programs that store customer seating and meal preferences, the smart cards can store food and other preferences to make patients’ stays more comfortable. This could be a useful marketing tool, highlighting hospital customer service efforts.
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