Experiences with a prototype tracking and verification system implemented within an imaging center.
OBJECTIVE
Most health care facilities currently struggle with protecting medical data privacy, misidentification of patients, and long patient waiting times. This article demonstrates a novel system for a clinical environment using wireless tracking and facial biometric technologies to automatically monitor and identify staff and patients to address these problems.


METHODS
The design of the location tracking and verification system (LTVS) was based on a workflow study which was performed to observe the physical location and movement of patient and staff at the Healthcare Consultation Center II (HCC II) running hospital information systems, radiology information systems, picture archive and communication systems, and a voice recognition system. Based on the results from this workflow study, the LTVS was designed using a wireless real-time location system and a facial biometric system integrated with the radiology information system. The LTVS was tested for its functionality in a laboratory environment, then evaluated at HCC II.


RESULTS
Experimental results in the laboratory and clinical environments demonstrated that patient and staff real-time location information and identity verification can be obtained from LTVS. Warning messages can immediately be sent to alert staff when patient's waiting time is over a predefined limit, and unauthorized access to a security area can be audited. Additionally, patient misidentification can be prevented during the course of examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
The system enabled health care providers to streamline the patient workflow, protect against erroneous examinations and create a security zone to prevent, and audit unauthorized access to patient health care data required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act mandate.
Guo
Bing
B
Image Processing and Informatics Laboratory, University of Southern California, 4676 Admiralty Way, Suite #601, Marina del Rey, CA 90292, USA. bguo@usc.edu
Documet
Jorge
J
Lee
Jasper
J
Liu
Brent
B
King
Nelson
N
Shrestha
Rasu
R
Wang
Kevin
K
Huang
H K
HK
Grant
Edward G
EG
D016494:Computer Security; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000191:economics; D010355:Patient Identification Systems; D011873:Radiology Information Systems / Q000191:economics; D049250:Speech Recognition Software