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Siemens Medical Solutions Patient Health Card Enables Secure and Portable Access to Medical Records

Posted on: Thursday, 31 May 2007, 12:00 CDT

In an effort to alleviate preventable medical errors and insurance fraud, Siemens Medical Solutions (www.usa.siemens.com/medical) announces the general availability of the CardOS Health 2.0 Patient Health Card Solution, a highly portable, secure storage and communication device that provides patient identification, electronic retrieval, storage and display of critical medical and demographic data, and communication functions for healthcare information. The Siemens Patient Health Card Solution meets the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's requirements for Class I medical devices that include design, development and manufacturing controls.

"Incomplete medical information is a leading cause of the nearly 100,000 deaths that occur each year due to medical errors in the U.S.*, and it's estimated that tens of billions of dollars are lost to fraud, including identity theft," said Joe Camaratta, vice president, Global Solutions, Siemens Medical Solutions. "The Siemens Patient Health Card will help streamline workflow for administrators and provide a convenient, secure means to access critical and timely patient data."

About the size of a credit card, Patient Health Cards are chip-embedded, photo identification cards that allow patients to be quickly and accurately identified and authenticated during registration, and provide instant access to key electronic medical record information, including insurance coverage and demographic information. Patients can easily provide the facility with their information by inserting a card into a reader and entering a private identification number to unlock the card. For patients who are unable to enter their number in an emergency setting, caregivers can override the system in order to access critical information.

The solution combines smart card technology with a comprehensive set of applications that can integrate with hospital information systems. Siemens' solution supports the healthcare industry's initiatives to adopt a universal electronic health record and complements RHIO / NHIN efforts.

The solution has been tested at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center and Elmhurst Hospital, which plan to deploy approximately 1.2 million Patient Health Cards.

"With Siemens, we are working with one of the world's technology leaders to help improve patient care and provide hospitals with more readily accessible information in a secure and portable format," said Kenneth L. Davis, M.D., president and CEO, Mount Sinai Medical Center. "Whether it is an emergency or routine visit, complete and updated patient data are vital to help provide appropriate treatment in the most timely fashion. The general availability of the Siemens Patient Health Card is a tremendous step in the pursuit of more accurate, personal and timely healthcare."

About Siemens Medical Solutions

Siemens Medical Solutions of Siemens AG (NYSE:SI) is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry. The company is known for bringing together innovative medical technologies, healthcare information systems, management consulting, and support services, to help customers achieve tangible, sustainable, clinical and financial outcomes. Recent acquisitions in the area of in-vitro diagnostics -- such as Diagnostic Products Corporation and Bayer Diagnostics -- mark a significant milestone for Siemens as it becomes the first full service diagnostics company. Employing more than 41,000 people worldwide and operating in over 130 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 8.23 billion EUR, orders of 9.33 billion EUR and group profit of 1.06 billion EUR for fiscal 2006 (Sept. 30). Further information can be found by visiting www.siemens.com/medical.

*Sources: National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine and The World Privacy Forum

Source: Business Wire

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