Analysis And Justification Of Biometric Technology

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

In information technology, biometrics refers to technologies that measure and analyse characteristics of the human body such as facial patterns, DNA, eye retina, fingerprints, voice, and hand measurements for authentication purposes. This journal provides the information of Biometric technology implemented in "Apollo Hospital" with electronic medical record system. Securing electronic medical records could become more complex and costly. Biometric technology is most important security technology in today’s world. It is an authentication mechanism that is based on automated identification or verification of a person based on unique physiological or behavioural characteristics.

This journal also presents the justification and analysis of biometrics technology, its cost benefits and issue while implementing in the Apollo hospital along with EMR system.

INTRODUCTION:

One of the main concerns in the implementation of computer information systems is the security and privacy of data. In the case of Apollo Hospital, a main issue in the implementation of an electronic medical system is patient record security. Many patients fear that electronic medical records could be affected by security breaches. In particular, data collected by web-based EMR systems could be easily accessed by unauthorized users. Patients wants to make sure their personal data is protected and information is accessed only by authorized personnel.

Biometric technologies have been proposed as a possible solution due to its ability to provide a mechanism for unique verification of an individual identity. This journal presents an analysis and justification of "Biometric Technology" implementation in Apollo Hospital.

ANALYSIS AND JUSTIFICATION OF BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY:

Biometrics refers to a particular class of unique identification technologies which provide a mechanism to verify individual identity. Biometric authentication is an authentication mechanism based on automated identification or verification of a person’s unique physiological or behavioural characteristics (Downs & Sands 2004). For example, fingerprint technology can be implemented for accessing electronic health records.

It also fosters quality care to patients, speed and accuracy of work, maintains patient’s history and reduced cost of maintenance. Biometric authentication technology also facilitates remote access to electronic health records by using a biometric feature as an authentication method (Marohn 2006).

However, there are technical and usability issues to be considered when selecting and using biometric technology. These are accuracy of the biometric technological obsolescence of the scanners, existence of the biometric feature, enrol ability and suitability for the medical atmosphere (Marohn 2006).

As per Zuniga (Zuniga et al., 2010) biometric technologies have been proposed as a possible technical solution for these issues because of its ability to provide a mechanism to verify individual identity. Biometrics in the high technology sector refers to a particular class of unique identification technologies.

Security procedures are day-to-day activities. Biometric have been developed by unique the characteristics of the person. Because biometric is built-in by individual so it is difficult to share and make duplicate. Biometric security, administrators can reduce the time, costs and problems that come with other techniques. (ehow.com)

COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS:

Securing electronic medical records (EMR) can be complex and costly (Zuniga et al., 2010). A cost-benefit analysis of biometric security compares the value of the information desired to be protected with the benefits of implementing biometric technology.

The benefit can be to:

Prevent conflict fraud and misuse in health care benefit programmes

Protect and help in the managing of confidential medical records

Identify patients, and

Secure medical facilities and equipment.

However, the cost in implementing the solution is not only the technology cost but also the cost of effects on people and processes. Both initial costs and recurring costs need to be estimated. Initial cost like engineers efforts to design, develop, test and implement the system. Recurring cost elements are program management costs, hardware and software maintenance cost, training of personnel and hiring new staff.

Table: Assuming Cost-benefit analysis while implementing biometrics in Apollo Hospital:

Biometrics

Net expense ($)

Gross expense ($)

Net staff cost ($)

Gross staff cost ($)

Purchase

10,000.00

12000.00

Annual Maintenance

1250.00

1500.00

External Consultant

12500.00

15000.00

New staff requirement

35000.00

42000.00

Training

1750.00

2100.00

Installation

900.00

1080.00

Totals

13900.00

16680.00

47500.00

57000.00

Grand Total

73680.00

INTEGRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ANALYSIS:

Pooe and Labuschagne (A. Pooe and L. Labuschagne 2011) found that Biometrics is usually integrated into security applications with the aim of strengthening security and restricting of identities. By definition, biometric authentication refers to technologies that measure and analyse human physical and behavioural characteristics for authentication purposes

Rosenzweig (Rosenzweig et al., 2004) In Apollo hospital biometrics fingerprint can be used for identity and access to patient’s medical reports. Biometric technology is used to solve the challenge of how hospitals can provide access to users and while maintaining levels of security that provide comfort and confidence. Fingerprint identification is easy to use and cost effective technology. It is a critical challenge, as greater security generally decreases access. There are very few complaints about the technology in hospitals. People seemed comfortable with having their fingerprints stored in a database, since it was stored as a string of numbers rather than the digital image.

As reported in Health Management Technology (2010) when biometric technology integrated with Electronic medical record system hospitals is able to meet the challenges related with patient’s identification and safety. This integration will decrease the cost of duplication of medical record and as well as security from theft and fraud. Doctors can easily access patients medical records through EMRs and patients also satisfy with timely and accurate registration without any sensitive personal information.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, every industry has to innovate and invest in new technologies in order to develop and continue in market. Biometric technology is an ideal security solution to complement Apollo’s electronic medical records system. This device can help identify a patient's medical record and track and control the unauthorised accesses to sensitive information. 

We also discussed about the cost, integration and implementation issues associated in implementing a biometric solution. Therefore, our analysis shows that despite of the disadvantages, there are more benefits of implementing biometric technology in the hospital along with electronic medical record system.