Biometric ID streamlines health service

Halfpenny Technologies, a health information exchange (HIE) solutions provider, has reached an agreement with HT Systems to integrate the PatientSecure biometric patient identification system into its HIE solutions, reports News Blaze.

"By bundling PatientSecure with our HIE offerings, we're not only decreasing the time it takes to move a patient through the administrative process within high volume labs, but are also adding an even stronger layer of security to help prevent fraud and identity theft," notes Jerry Baker, CEO of Halfpenny Technologies.

"In addition, patients no longer have to complete duplicate paperwork and answer sensitive identity questions each time they visit the lab, increasing patient satisfaction and improving lab workflow."

A Northern Ireland-based company has unveiled what it calls the world's most advanced medical analyser, states The Belfast Telegraph.

The Evidence Evolution analyser was developed and manufactured at the company's Crumlin headquarters and was unveiled to the American Association of Clinical Chemists at a global convention in Anaheim, California.

The company said its product set a new standard in diagnostic testing and was the world's first fully automated biochip analyser to cover the full range of necessary healthcare tests. It allows quick and multiple testing, and outpaces its rivals by carrying out almost 3 000 tests per hour.

The Federal Communications Commission and Food and Drug Administration have joined forces in an effort to promote the development and deployment of wireless technologies to improve healthcare and lower costs while also taking care to protect patients' safety, says Datamation.

Through the partnership, the agencies aim to streamline the approval process and regulatory requirements for wireless health IT device makers, spurring innovation and investment in an emerging sector of the medical industry.

Wireless health applications offer the potential to provide remote consults with specialists from distant medical centres, delivering a level of care beyond the reach for many rural Americans.