Also, each time a patient uses his or her card to receive services, a receipt is printed that shows pending appointments at other participating programs. And even more features are possible. David Armour, manager of Siemens Health Services, the largest systems integrator of smart-card technology, sees great potential for smart cards. Williams said it is likely that the technology will eventually be applied in all 17 states under WGA s umbrella. At the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., which serves a large senior population, smart cards have eliminated the need for patients to wait in line at the outpatient laboratory to announce their arrival for an appointment.
Patients now insert their smart cards into a card reader to alert the staff that they have arrived.
Meanwhile, WGA is seeking to enhance its smart-card use. While some European programs have incorporated biometrics, including the use of fingerprints, into their smart-card systems, Williams said digitized signatures will likely fit better into the United States use of the technology. The digitized signature is unique. It can be handled within the parameters of the microchip itself so that when your health information goes out to a secure Web site or another provider, it s unique to you. Williams said that in the future, all information, including health data, will be managed using both online and offline solutions.