“Accurate patient identification is a critical issue in health care especially as we expand the use of electronic medical records and health information exchanges. These new health cards will ensure that patients are securely and accurately linked with their personal medical information across multiple institutions and care providers, reducing administrative burdens, improving patient care and satisfaction,” said Paul Contino, vice president of information technology at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Congress incorporated the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act into the President Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill. The new law provides $19 billion to standardize and secure the creation, access, and sharing of electronic health information.

The law also includes financial incentives for health care providers to use electronic health records. EXTENSIONHealth Connect with G&D patient health cards can help meet the information security goals of this law by providing a highly secure method for access and authentication to health information and EHR.