Records on smartcards [was: [LINK] Thoughts about health cards]

[Stephen Wilson]

Malcolm Miles wrote: 

> On Mon, 31 Jan 2005 13:09:54 +1100 (EST), you wrote:
> 
> >If records were primarily held on a personal card, there are several 
> >important problems: 
> >
> >- if the card is unavailable then treatment can be compromised 
> >(especially in medical emergencies) 
> 
> No better or worse than the current situation where in most emergency
> cases a patients records aren't available to the ambulance or
> emergency ward doctors.

Of course.  But that is one of the problems EHR is trying to fix.  Records 
on smartcards is a flawed way of trying to deliver patient information in 
emergency settings. 

 
> >- smartcards cannot cope with the megabytes, sometimes gigabytes of 
> >data (note that many hospital imaging systems are going digital; as an  
> >aside, my most recent medical images were given to me on a CD-ROM) 
> 
> I would not expect that a smart card would store x-ray images and
> other full test results. It should be able to store basic medical
> data, such as any conditions such as diabetes, current drug regime,
> their GP's details etc; much like an expanded version of the medical
> bracelets some people wear.

So where are we going to put the bulky items of the electronic health 
record if they don't fit on a smartcard?  We're going to store them 
centrally after all.  

But you're right that an expanded version of the medic alert bracelet is 
one aspect of some health card proposals.  Store the bulk of the record 
centrally, with redundant storage of allergies and prior conditions on the 
smartcard, to facilitate emergency treatment in cases where the card is on 
the person. 

Cheers, 


Stephen Wilson
Lockstep Consulting Pty Ltd
ABN 59 593 754 482

11 Minnesota Ave
Five Dock NSW 2046
Australia

P +61 (0)414 488 851

--------------------

About Lockstep 
Lockstep was established in early 2004 by noted authentication expert 
Stephen Wilson, to provide independent advice and analysis on cyber 
security policy, strategy, risk management, and identity management.  
Lockstep is also developing unique new smartcard solutions to address 
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Contact swilson at lockstep.com.au.