DataCard Introduces Portable Patient Information Solution Built On New Microsoft Smart Card for Windows Operating System.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 1999--DataCard Corporation debuted a portable patient information solution today at the annual Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Conference in Atlanta that utilizes Microsoft's new smart card operating system.

The DataCard(R) SmartRec(TM) portable patient information solution--which has been successfully piloted over the past 12 months--is the first healthcare product to feature the new Microsoft(R) Smart Card for Windows(R) operating system.

Moving toward an industry-wide smart card standard

Healthcare experts have long regarded smart cards as an extremely promising technology for improving patient care and reducing operating costs. But the lack of industry-wide standards has precluded widespread adoption of the technology.

"Microsoft's new operating system clearly will accelerate the introduction of smart card-based solutions into the healthcare market by allowing developers to use familiar tools," said Ravi Sharma, president of DataCard's healthcare company. "DataCard is proud to be the first healthcare company to develop a smart card-based solution around this evolving standard."

Mike Dusche, Microsoft's product manager, Smart Card for Windows, said the DataCard SmartRec solution provides an excellent demonstration of how our new smart card operating system will be deployed in the healthcare industry.

"The concept of portable patient information is very powerful, especially in terms of enhancing the quality of care and improving operational efficiency. It's a great application for Smart Card for Windows," Dusche said. "We expect innovative solutions like these will generate widespread interest for both developers and end-users."

Providing vital information at the point-of-care

SmartRec allows patients to carry important clinical information with them wherever they go. Vital information is loaded onto a personalized smart card during an initial enrollment process and updated after each encounter. Clinicians can access this patient-specific information quickly and easily at the point-of-care.

"From a patient's perspective, SmartRec can greatly improve both convenience and the quality of care," Sharma said. "Healthcare encounters are faster and simpler, because information that once had to be tracked down can be accessed instantly."

"The patient also has the comfort of knowing that clinicians are dealing with accurate, up-to-date information," Sharma said. "Access to this information is essential for providing quality care."

From the clinicians' point of view, SmartRec provides the patient-specific information they need to deliver the best possible care, Sharma said.

"In a matter seconds, clinicians can access important patient-specific information. Is the patient allergic to certain medications? Which tests have been performed? How has the patient responded to their prescribed therapy program?" Sharma said.

"Smart card technology makes this patient-specific information easily accessible and highly portable," Sharma said. "So, it can be used to improve outcomes across the continuum of care."

In addition to its clinical value, Sharma said SmartRec also provides healthcare enterprises with an opportunity to engender strong patient loyalty.

"In our pilot programs, we discovered patients feel they are receiving highly personalized service and better care from providers who employ SmartRec," Sharma said. So, we believe SmartRec is proving to be a tremendously powerful tool for building patient loyalty."

While SmartRec can be used to improve care for any patient population, Sharma said he expects initial applications will include specific clinical segments such as maternity, well-child and chronic illness.

The company also exhibited the new DataCard(R) SmartPass(TM) secure medical records solution at HIMSS '99. SmartPass allows healthcare enterprises to control access to medical records with biometrics and smart cards, rather than passwords.

"Passwords are too easily compromised," said Sharma. "SmartPass uses two powerful technologies--biometrics and smart cards--to enhance the security of medical records and other proprietary data."

DataCard Corporation, a privately held company based in Minneapolis, Minn., provides customers around the world with fully integrated solutions for a variety of financial, identification and healthcare applications. In addition to turnkey solutions, the company offers complete lines of card personalization systems, digital photo ID systems, photo ID printers and transaction systems. (www.datacard.com)