Imprivata and Verato combine biometrics and referential matching for patient records

Imprivata and Verato have announced a partnership to combine biometrics with referential matching to provide healthcare organizations with unprecedented accuracy in identifying patients.

The companies will integrate Imprivata PatientSecure with Verato Universal MPI, which is a next-generation cloud-based master patient index (MPI) solution powered by Verato’s proprietary referential matching technology, according to the announcement. The combination of matching methods provides a comprehensive patient identification and record matching solution, the companies say, allowing healthcare organizations to securely and accurately match patients with their medical records through in-person identity proofing, advanced record resolution, and authentication.

“We’re delighted to be working with Verato, a partner that’s mastered the process of linking a patient to all of their records within and across healthcare organizations,” says Imprivata Chief Medical Officer Dr. Sean Kelly. “We can then attach a biometric identifier using Imprivata PatientSecure. Together, we’re solving an interoperability challenge that’s vexed healthcare organizations for decades. We’re delivering an unprecedented combination of accuracy and consistency in patient matching, which is critical for clinicians to treat patients safely based on their complete medical histories.”

The companies note that The Pew Charitable Trusts said in a 2018 research report that biometrics and referential matching are two of the four cornerstone technologies for improving patient matching and health information exchanges. Further, Black Book reports 18 percent of health records are duplicates.

“Our customers are asking for a comprehensive solution for managing the end-to-end problem of patient data,” adds Mark LaRow, CEO of Verato. “Biometrics capture patient identities wherever the patient appears, and referential matching ensures that all the records are linked to the correct patient. Together, Verato Universal MPI with Imprivata PatientSecure support the full lifecycle of patient identity. This solution will help providers, who are now being challenged to provide near-perfect patient information because of forthcoming regulations by ONC and CMS, support patient-directed access and eliminate “information blocking.” Additionally, there is a need for accurate patient data to feed new initiatives like analytics, telemedicine, precision medicine, social determinants of health, and clinical decision support. All of this tells us that we cannot continue pursuing the same patient matching architectures of the past 20 years. Something new is needed. And that something is the integration of biometrics and referential matching.”

Imprivata partnered with DigiCert to for a streamlined identity proofing workflow to meet EPCS requirements late last year.

Article Topics

authentication  |  biometrics  |  healthcare  |  Imprivata  |  patient identification  |  PatientSecure