Biometrics for the Patient Experience

Is that ME? In a world of personas and identities sliced and diced to monetize and sell to me, there is one thing that is still solidly, undeniably me-- my body and its unique identifiers. My body is increasingly valuable in a world where identities are becoming less secure, and more susceptible to compromise and manipulation. 

What truly makes you unique? In the increasingly conglomerated, massive healthcare systems of today that serve millions of patients, you can have hundreds of females (sex) with the same name (Jessica) who are born on the same date (July 1, 1990) and in the past four years, have been heading to the hospitals to have babies themselves. The unique identifiers of the past (name, sex, and D.O.B.), aren’t going to cut it in ensuring that your healthcare provider knows YOU are you. This assurance can also drive more personalized health experiences with you and your provider.

The same can be said in the case of first responders arriving at the scene of an accident. When a person has sustained injuries that result in them becoming unresponsive or unconscious, contacting the family of the said person can pose a challenge if they hold no identification. Distinctive identifiers are critical in pinpointing the identity of the victim and contacting their family member(s) who are responsible for making difficult decisions regarding the person's life. 

Biometrics solve these challenges and a host of others. 

With the implementation of biometric solutions, parent facial recognition acts as an extra layer of security to enhance infant protection. Utilizing facial recognition grants access to newborn babies in hospitals to only the parents of the newborn child, locking off access to unauthorized visitors.

Providing patients with optimal digital experiences to complement their healthcare is quickly becoming imperative for providers. As with any experience, to make it personal and specific to a patient, you must undoubtedly know exactly which patient you’re caring for. That verified identification process means biometrics is coming to a hospital near you.

So, what are biometrics? Calling something “biometric” means the thing you are describing involves the application of statistical analysis to biological data.

My thumbprint is part of my unique biological data. When I place it over my iPhone8 button to unlock the phone, a statical analysis happens by matching my thumbprint to the data points my phone has on record. The same statistical analysis occurs when my colleague unlocks her iPhone11 using facial recognition.

Other examples of unique biological features include irises and facial structures. They are the identifiers of the future that will ensure correct identification, and hopefully, power a better, more personalized patient experience across the board.