title: Right Care for the Right Patient Each and Every Time.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To implement a biometric patient identification system in the field of radiation oncology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A biometric system using palm vein scanning technology has been implemented to ensure the delivery of treatment to the correct patient each and every time. By interfacing a palm vein biometrics system (PVBS) (PatientSecure®, Imprivata, Lexington, Massachusetts) with the radiation oncology patient management system (ROPMS) (ARIA®, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, California) one can integrate patient check-in at the front desk and identify and open the correct treatment record of the patient at the point of care prior to the initiation of the radiation therapy treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The learning time for the use of the software and palm scanner was extremely short. The staff at the front desk and treatment machines learned the procedures to use, clean, and care for the device in one hour's time. The first key to the success of the system is to have a policy and procedure in place; such a procedure was created and put in place in the department from the first day. The second key to the success is the actual hand placement on the scanner. Learning the proper placement and gently reminding patients from time to time was found to be efficient and to work well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a biometric patient identification system employing palm vein technology allows one to ensure that the right care is delivered to the right patient each and every time. Documentation through the PVBS database now exists to show that this has taken place.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Amar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basavatia
authors.affiliation: Montefiore Information Technologies, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fret
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lukaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Hsiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Ravindra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yaparpalvi
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center.
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Tome
authors.affiliation: Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein Medical School.
authors.forename: Shalom
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalnicki
keywords: biometrics; patient safety; patient satisfaction; risk mitigation