SCM Microsystems' Upgradable Mobile Terminal eHealth500 Receives Certification for German eHealth Program
May 18 2009 - 10:55AM
PR Newswire (US)
ISMANING, Germany and FREMONT, Calif., May 18
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SCM Microsystems, Inc. (Nasdaq: SCMM;
Prime Standard, SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the
Digital World, today announced that its eHeatlh500 mobile terminal
is one of the first upgradeable mobile devices to receive the
required certification for use with the new eHealth cards in stage
2 of the introduction of the electronic health card in Germany.
"With the certification of our mobile terminal, we pave the way for
an efficient implementation of the electronic health card
throughout Germany," said Dietmar Wendling, vice president
e-Government of SCM Microsystems. "Our mobile terminal extends
support for the country's new eHealth cards to all patients, not
just those who are in a doctor's office or hospital. With our
technology-leading mobile and stationary terminals, SCM offers the
strongest solutions for healthcare providers as the eHealth program
is implemented across all regions of the country." The
certification for SCM's eHealth500 mobile reader comes from gematik
(Gesellschaft fur Telematikanwendungen der Gesundheitskarte), the
German healthcare organization overseeing the implementation of the
country's eHealth program. SCM had previously received gematik
certification for its eHealth200 BCS stationary terminals in
September 2008. The eHealth500 mobile terminal can be used by
doctors and other healthcare providers to read and temporarily
store data on the new German electronic health card (eGK) and the
traditional health insurance card (KVK) when away from their
medical practice, such as during home visits, in nursing homes and
retirement homes. Back in the medical office or hospital, the data
can be transferred via a USB interface to the doctor's,
pharmacist's or hospital's network for permanent archival. Local
network storage of patient data is the goal of the first stage of
the German eHealth program. In a second stage, a secure
country-wide network will be established, so that data can be
appropriately shared among and between medical providers and health
insurance companies and agencies. The eHealth500 mobile terminal
fulfils the strict security requirements of the German National
Security Agency BSI (Bundesamt fur Sicherheit in der
Informationstechnologie). It also enables firmware upgrades to
accommodate future updates, which ensures that the terminals will
be able to continue to comply with evolving requirements throughout
all stages of the German eHealth program. This protects the
investment of doctors and other healthcare providers, whose initial
purchase of the terminals will also be subsidized by the German
health insurance industry. Once the firmware of the mobile
terminals has been updated during the planned second phase of the
German eHealth program, the terminal will have the capability of
not only reading electronic health cards, but also processing
health professional cards (HPC) used to authenticate healthcare
providers and secure module cards (SMC) utilized for secure data
communication. Hence, the terminal can be used as both a mobile and
as stationary terminal. The compact, convenient and pocket
calculator-sized terminal has a powerful processor to rapidly
access and update data under the complex requirements of the
electronic health card. The availability of secure firmware updates
allows the highest flexibility and adaptability. The large,
high-contrast graphical display shows all relevant patient data as
well as device information such as battery status and free storage
space. The eHealth500 is easy, intuitive and user configurable. The
terminal employs an environment-friendly battery with an automatic
charging function to assure continuous availability. It can store
up to 200 patient records, and all device settings or patient
records are stored in memory, even if the batteries are fully
discharged. eHealth Terminals from SCM Microsystems The
implementation of an electronic health insurance card for 82
million people in Germany is one of the world's largest IT
projects. For the last two years, SCM has continued to work closely
with health card providers, the gematik and the BSI to develop,
improve and adapt its eHealth terminals to the requirements of the
German electronic healthcard program. The company has played a
leading role in helping to define specifications for the eHealth
terminals that will be installed in doctors' offices, pharmacies
and other health provider facilities. SCM was also the first to
equip doctors' practices in the initial test regions of the program
and today its stationary terminals are included in the first phase
of the program's wider deployment throughout Germany. The
eHealth500 mobile terminal complements SCM's stationary eHealth
terminal with capabilities that allow health providers to read and
process data of the electronic health card and the health insurance
card while away from their practices. About SCM Microsystems, Inc.
SCM Microsystems is a leading provider of solutions that open the
Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital
content and services at home and in the marketplace. The company
develops, markets and sells the industry's broadest range of smart
card reader technology for secure authentication of individuals by
computers, networks and facilities. Through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Hirsch Electronics, SCM is a leader in IP-based
physical access solutions that integrate databases, devices, alarm
systems and surveillance systems. The company's customers include
OEMs, governments and enterprises worldwide. U.S. headquarters are
in Fremont, California; global headquarters are in Ismaning,
Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems
website at http://www.scmmicro.com/. DATASOURCE: SCM Microsystems,
Inc. CONTACT: Darby Dye, +1-510-249-4883, , or Annika Oelsner, +49
89 9595-5220, , both of SCM Microsystems, Inc. Web Site:
http://www.scmmicro.com/
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