More and more hospitals and medical centers are turning to smart card credentials as a way to solve some of the health care industry’s bigger problems. By providing patients with smart cards, it’s much easier to properly match medical records, including previous conditions and medications, to the patient. In many cases, quick access to this information can make the difference between life and death.

New York’s Mount Sinai Medical Center was one of the first users of smart card technology in the health care industry. Currently Mount Sinai is working on a project to issue 100,000 smart cards to patients in New York city. The cards will work across multiple hospitals and clinics, so patients can use them wherever they go for medical assistance.
Each card contains the patient’s medical record, along with demographic and health insurance information. For emergency purposes, the cards will contain a snapshot of the patient’s medical record, including recent medical activity, lab results, and current medication.
Along with speeding up the patient identification process and providing quick access to medical records, health care smart cards can also help a hospital’s administrative staff to deal with insurance claims, and cut down on duplicate patient records.