Care Identity Service

Care Identity Service (CIS) is a secure digital identity management platform that underpins access to patient data and critical healthcare systems within the National Health Service in the United Kingdom (NHS). Managed by NHS England Digital, this service authenticates healthcare professionals and support staff who require access to national clinical information systems. Through robust care identity management, CIS ensures that only verified authentication users can securely access electronic patient records, prescribing tools, and other essential care applications.

The enhanced version of the platform, known as Care Identity Service 2 (CIS2), introduces improved scalability and flexibility by supporting a broader range of authentication methods. While the original Care Identity Service primarily relied on physical smartcards, CIS2 supports additional mechanisms such as mobile devices and biometric verification. These advancements enable smoother, faster access to care services, particularly in environments where traditional smartcard use is less practical, like in community or remote care settings.

CIS and CIS2 are integral to maintaining the integrity of Care ID credentials, which are vital for managing user permissions and ensuring accountability across the NHS. These systems are tightly integrated with registration authorities that oversee the issuance and governance of digital identities for NHS staff. By streamlining access control and improving the user experience, CIS2 plays a critical role in enabling secure and efficient workflows within the NHS.

The platform’s secure authentication framework supports a wide range of national clinical information systems, including those used for e-referrals, summary care records, and the electronic prescription service. At Imprivata, we’re advancing the adoption of the new Spine CIS2 platform to offer clinicians faster, and more user-friendly, secure authentication. By leveraging the open standards outlined by CIS2, we contribute to the NHS’s interoperability goals, ensuring that more healthcare systems can effectively communicate using a shared framework, with seamless access to crucial care applications.