Biometrics entering a new era in healthcare

Biometrics technology, such as fingerprint scanners, facial recognition and iris scanners, can improve patient identification and reduce fraud, but it has not become mainstream in healthcare yet. Advances in technology and decreasing costs will drive adoption, but there are still challenges related to privacy, cost and interoperability. Northwell Health in New York is using iris scanning biometrics to verify patient identity and link patient photos to their record. Other potential applications include linking patient photos to care team alerts and providing a digital patient experience.