Biometrics-enhanced systems help doctors provide contactless services amid COVID-19

A new partnership between ID.me and DrFirst enables healthcare providers using the iPrescribe mobile e-prescribing app to verify their identity in minutes to comply with state and federal rules, instead of using the usual process, which can take days.

“Now it’s as simple as showing your ID when it comes to registering for mobile prescribing – at a time when providing prescriptions faster for patients sheltered at home can be truly lifesaving,” said G. Cameron Deemer, president of DrFirst, in a prepared statement. “Being able to verify identity within the iPrescribe app, without a lengthy and complicated process, means that clinicians can prescribe faster and easier than before. This is critical, as hospitals and healthcare providers around the world grapple with social distancing and other challenges caused by COVID-19.”

Most e-prescribing apps ask doctors to give extensive information about their credit history to prove identity, wasting time that could be spent on patient care. Instead, iPrescribe lets users scan a picture of their driver’s licenses or passports plus a selfie for biometric identity proofing.

“We are excited to partner with DrFirst to help make the process for issuing electronic prescriptions on a mobile app both more secure and more convenient,” said Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me, in a prepared statement.

ID.me validates healthcare provider credentials such as Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and National Provider Identifier (NPI) identifiers, and leverages two-factor authentication to secure accounts. The technology is compliant with requirements for the electronic prescription of controlled substances (EPCS) and creates NIST 800-63 high-assurance credentials used across multiple systems.

Hall recently spoke to Biometric Update about ID.me’s support for a discount program for healthcare workers and first responders, noting the company already provides digital identity for roughly 10 percent of America’s doctors.

Vecna Technologies introduces biometric mobile patient check-in software

Vecna Technologies is joining COVID-19 containment efforts with its touchless mobile patient check-in software that protects healthcare workers and patients, the company announced.

Equipped with smartphone tools such as facial recognition and other biometrics, mobile wallet, and notifications, patients can use the system to pre-register, check-in for appointments, and fill out COVID-19-related screening questions remotely on a mobile device. This prevents staff from having direct contact with potential infected patients.

“We are pleased to answer market demand in providing an end to end patient self-check-in experience that helps minimize staff and patient contact during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond,” said Vecna Healthcare Founder and CEO Deborah Theobald, in a prepared statement. “We thank the front-line healthcare and emergency workers and are committed to supporting their safety through continued technology advancements.”

“The Vecna Mobile App puts patient check in safely in the palm of patient’s hands with the added benefit of integration into health system’s existing EMRs including Cerner, Meditech, Epic and Allscripts,” said Vecna Vice President of Sales and Marketing Doug Fallon, in the statement. “Patients can not only pre-register and check-in for appointments but also conveniently update personal information and insurance, make payments, and receive cost estimates for their care – all from the safety of their own home. This not only adds to patient peace of mind when seeking care but also eliminates time staff spends on patient intake allowing them to instead focus on critical patient care.”

Article Topics

biometrics  |  ePrescribing  |  facial recognition  |  healthcare  |  ID.me  |  identity verification  |  mobile app  |  Vecna Technologies