Self-Service Identification

Self-service identification empowers a wide variety of groups, such as general consumers, banking customers, students, and patients to manage their own identity verification, usually using technology or software. In healthcare, this constitutes access to health information, streamlining the data access process and therefore enhancing overall patient engagement via accessible technology.

Often, in the healthcare system, patients must rely on healthcare providers to verify their identity and grant access to medical records, a process that can be time-consuming and may require in-person visits or extensive documentation. With the advent of self-service identification, some patients may authenticate their identity and access their health data through secure online platforms, mobile applications, and other digital tools. This is both convenient and gives patients timely access to their medical information, which is crucial for making informed decisions about health and treatment options.

Self-service identification can also be used by patients to verify their own identity for check-in or enrollment in specific programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Some systems allow for self-service identification via manual entry of names and birthdates, and some use driver’s licenses or insurance cards. In this way, self-service identification can play a vital role in improving the overall patient experience and operational efficiency of healthcare organizations. Patients can easily check in for appointments or update their personal information, such as contact details and emergency contacts, without the need for administrative staff intervention. This not only saves time for both patients and healthcare providers but also ensures that the information in medical records is accurate and up to date.

Additionally, self-service identification can facilitate the sharing of health data with other healthcare providers, caregivers, and family members, promoting better coordination of care. No matter the purpose of self-service identification, the convenience and security of the process can be enhanced with biometric identification technology, like that leveraged by Imprivata Patient Access. Patient Access uses facial recognition to quickly and accurately identify patients, integrates with leading EHRs to accurately retrieve digital health records, and ensure the correct record is linked to the correct patient throughout their care journey.