BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of Siemens AG introduced both its HiPath(TM) SIcurity(R) clinic card, for easy-to-use hospital-wide access to buildings and IT systems, and its HiPath DirX (R)Compact solution for healthcare that helps simplify security management with centralized user and password administration. These powerful healthcare security solutions debuted today in the Siemens exhibit (#5036) at the Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS) 2004 Conference and Exhibition being held Feb. 22-26, 2004 in Orlando, Fla.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20021029/SILOGO )

With the HiPath SIcurity clinic card, a hospital or clinic can give each of its employees, including physicians, nurses and all other staff, an easy- to-use, multi-function smart card that can double as an identification badge and help with the compliance of the facility's physical and IT system security measures.

At the Nebraska Heart Hospital in Lincoln, Neb., CIO Doug Colburn reported that the HiPath SIcurity clinic card has been a welcome addition to the facility. The hospital opened in May 2003 with pervasive digital technologies, including the Siemens smart card solution, to help relieve staff of administrative burdens so they can focus on patient care. Test results, for example, are reported directly to patient's electronic medical charts, which are accessible from every PC in the hospital -- and nearly every room has a PC.

"The Siemens clinic card provides a secure, multi-functional picture ID for every employee, giving them single sign-on to all of the hospital's medical and business applications," Colburn said. "It also provides building access and even cafeteria checkout. Most employees haven't had an ID badge like this before, and every one of them loves its convenience."

"Few people would dispute the need for security, especially in hospitals," said Chris Meaney, director of the Secure Networks Solutions business unit of Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc. "Historically, there has been a tradeoff between complying with security requirements and getting your job done. Siemens has turned that tradeoff inside out. Now hospitals can actually expect better security while enabling their staff to more effectively manage clinical workflows."

For example, employees as well as visitors can be issued these smart cards to access specific buildings or even floors or rooms in buildings, depending on their access privileges. These privileges can now be centrally administered according to specific hospital roles via the HiPath DirX Compact healthcare solution. An electronic purse function also can serve as a source of digital cash or as a debit card, deducting personal, onsite purchases of food, meals, supplies and services from employees' pay.