title: Purposes of health identification cards in belgium.
abstract: Although other alternatives might exist, identification cards have been chosen as an acceptable and adequate tool to be used to identify patients and health professionals.They are planned for a digital signature and for access to electronic health records as well as for health information exchange and for databases querying. Local applications might exist independently, but the Federal State has now developed BeHealth, a platform for health professionals, social security personnel as well as the great public to facilitate a common access to some health data. Security conditions have been defined and are described.
authors.affiliation: Health Services Research, Ecole de Santé Publique de l'Université Catholique de Louvain, Unité d'Informatique Médicale, Louvain, Belgique.
authors.forename: Francis H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Roger France
authors.forename: Etienne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Clercq
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bangels
mesh_terms: D001530:Belgium; D016494:Computer Security; D066275:Health Information Exchange; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized