10/25/05

Kiosk terminals for the first field test for the introduction of electronic health cards

By supplying kiosk systems, Wincor Nixdorf is involved in the first field test in North-Rhine Westphalia for the introduction of electronic health cards in the town of Bottrop and surrounding area. Patients taking part in the field test will be able to use the ProInfo 1000 terminals to inspect their own patient files using their health cards and PIN numbers. The first terminal has been installed in Bottrop’s “Knappschaftskrankenhaus” hospital.

Electronic patient files are being introduced as part of the “prosper” health network operated by the Bottrop miners’ provident society and gives medical staff a view of the patient’s diagnostic and treatment history, offering them key up-to-the-minute patient data and enabling them to decide more quickly on the right course of treatment. The kiosk terminals now also give patients the ability to look at their own medical files.

The terminals needed only a small number of modifications to meet the specialist requirements of this project. For example, a special card reader was included and a connector built in, linking the terminal with the central health service system.

Starting in Spring 2006, the field test is to be extended to include approximately 20,000 participants and 75 doctors in Bottrop. Then, more terminals will be added in stages across the test area.