Security Magazine logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Security Magazine logo
  • NEWS
    • Security Newswire
    • Technologies & Solutions
  • MANAGEMENT
    • Leadership Management
    • Enterprise Services
    • Security Education & Training
    • Logical Security
    • Security & Business Resilience
    • Profiles in Excellence
  • PHYSICAL
    • Access Management
    • Fire & Life Safety
    • Identity Management
    • Physical Security
    • Video Surveillance
    • Case Studies (Physical)
  • CYBER
    • Cybersecurity News
    • More
  • BLOG
  • COLUMNS
    • Cyber Tactics
    • Leadership & Management
    • Security Talk
    • Career Intelligence
    • Leader to Leader
    • Cybersecurity Education & Training
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Annual Guarding Report
    • Most Influential People in Security
    • The Security Benchmark Report
    • The Security Leadership Issue
    • Top Guard and Security Officer Companies
    • Top Cybersecurity Leaders
    • Women in Security
  • SECTORS
    • Arenas / Stadiums / Leagues / Entertainment
    • Banking/Finance/Insurance
    • Construction, Real Estate, Property Management
    • Education: K-12
    • Education: University
    • Government: Federal, State and Local
    • Hospitality & Casinos
    • Hospitals & Medical Centers
    • Infrastructure:Electric,Gas & Water
    • Ports: Sea, Land, & Air
    • Retail/Restaurants/Convenience
    • Transportation/Logistics/Supply Chain/Distribution/ Warehousing
  • EVENTS
    • Industry Events
    • Webinars
    • Solutions by Sector
    • Security 500 Conference
  • MEDIA
    • Videos
      • Cybersecurity & Geopolitical Discussion
      • Ask Me Anything (AMA) Series
    • Podcasts
    • Polls
    • Photo Galleries
  • MORE
    • Call for Entries
    • Classifieds & Job Listings
    • Continuing Education
    • Newsletter
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • This Month's Content
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!

Multi-tech Cards Bridge to Smart Ones

May 7, 2003
Contactless, swipe-able or multi-tech? Each has its end user advantages. For many operations, multiple technologies on the identification card are a bridge to the next step - a smart card with partitioned applications and built-in security.

There's no doubt that several trends are pushing smart card development. One is the need to create a higher-level personal identifier, possibly including a biometrics or even a medical file; the other highlights the evolution of payment systems thanks to financial giants such as MasterCard, American Express and VISA.

Multi-tech vs. Smart Cards

At present, some organizations employ unique database schemes that are extending the usefulness of swipe and multi-tech cards.

In Hamilton, N.J., the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Hamilton has a successful Smart Health Card program that ironically isn't based on a smart card.

Success in this healthcare facility has to do as much with the internal marketing of the card as it does with the ease of creating thousands of the cards through Eltron card printers.

"What fits in the palm of your hand and puts medical data right at your fingertips?" the hospital flyer asks. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital-Hamilton, an acute care community hospital, just 10 miles east of Trenton, has educated and excited patients about the advantages of the card program. Patients know about the Smart Health Card, credit card in size and embedded with a magnetic stripe encoded with the patient's medical record number.

At registration or in the Emergency Department (ED), one simple swipe through a reader, interfaced to the hospital's registration system, and medical staff has immediate access to vital medical information. Instead of simply verifying if a person has medical insurance, the Smart Health Card pulls up information about the patient's last visit. Benefits include ease of registration, less paperwork, a decreased risk of duplicating medical record numbers, enhanced overall quality of care delivered and improvements in the accuracy and reliability of patient data.

Health Records Connection

The card program is part of an overall Patient Card System implemented by Health Card Solutions of Forest Lake, Minn. This systems integrator provides customized health card systems to medical institutions nationwide. As at Robert Wood Johnson-Hamilton, Health Card Solutions specializes in creating a fit between a hospital's patient identification card and its existing hospital information system.

"The community and hospital have reacted favorably to the Smart Health Card program," says Barbara Forsyth, Hospital In-Patient Admissions.

"In our first two years of this program, we printed over 60,000 smart cards," says Forsyth. "Weekly, we continue to print about 100 cards on request per week."

To print cards, the hospital uses two Eltron P310 card printers from Zebra Technologies/Eltron Card Printer Products, Camarillo, Calif.

The standalone P310 prints barcodes, ID photos, graphics and text, edge-to-edge. Green, yellow and red LED indicators provide easy-to-understand printer status. Printer ribbon synchronization is automatic, eliminating the need for operator intervention. An easy to change, self-cleaning cartridge thoroughly removes dust before printing, minimizing missing dots and color registration problems.

Contactless Smart Card Growth

Beyond such multi-tech "bridge" applications, there are indications that payment systems using contactless smart card technology also are growing.

Consumers and retailers alike are attracted to the dual advantages of fast and convenient payment using contactless technology, generating more interest and numerous implementations and pilot trials here in the United States, according to a new Smart Card Alliance white paper.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024

    Security magazine's Top Cybersecurity Leaders 2024 award...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Security Staff
  • cyber brain

    The intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence

    Artificial intelligence (AI) is a valuable cybersecurity...
    Security Leadership and Management
    By: Pam Nigro
  • artificial intelligence AI graphic

    Assessing the pros and cons of AI for cybersecurity

    Artificial intelligence (AI) has significant implications...
    Cybersecurity
    By: Charles Denyer
Subscribe For Free!
  • Security eNewsletter & Other eNews Alerts
  • eMagazine Subscriptions
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Online Registration
  • Mobile App
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Security audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Security or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Crisis Response Team
    Sponsored byEverbridge

    Automate or Fall Behind – Crisis Response at the Speed of Risk

  • Perimeter security
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Why Property Security is the New Competitive Advantage

  • Duty of Care
    Sponsored byAMAROK

    Integrating Technology and Physical Security to Advance Duty of Care

Popular Stories

Pills spilled

More than 20,000 sensitive medical records exposed

Laptop in darkness

Verizon 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report shows rise in cyberattacks

Coding on screen

Research reveals mass scanning and exploitation campaigns

White post office truck

Department of Labor Sues USPS Over Texas Whistleblower Termination

Computer with binary code hovering nearby

Cyberattacks Targeting US Increased by 136%

2025 Security Benchmark banner

Events

September 29, 2025

Global Security Exchange (GSX)

 

November 17, 2025

SECURITY 500 Conference

This event is designed to provide security executives, government officials and leaders of industry with vital information on how to elevate their programs while allowing attendees to share their strategies and solutions with other security industry executives.

View All Submit An Event

Products

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

Security Culture: A How-to Guide for Improving Security Culture and Dealing with People Risk in Your Organisation

See More Products

Related Articles

  • Kantech’s ioSmart Smart Cards and Multi-Technology Readers - Security Magazine

    ioSmart Smart Cards and Multi-Technology Readers

    See More
  • SEC0819-5G-Feat-slide_900px

    Building a secure bridge for point-to-point connectivity

    See More
  • Changing the Hoodie Image for Cybersecurity

    Engaging Young Women and Girls in STEM to Bridge the Cybersecurity Job Gap

    See More
×

Sign-up to receive top management & result-driven techniques in the industry.

Join over 20,000+ industry leaders who receive our premium content.

SIGN UP TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing