BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., March 10, 2010 - Siemens Industry, Inc. today announced the completion of a smart card upgrade for the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. Siemens Building Technologies helped the Network replace its 300 existing Wiegand swipe card readers with a smart card proximity reader system for access control. The new system increases efficiency through the integration of physical security and the healthcare provider's IT network. Now, employees can enter facilities and access secure data and business systems with one device: their smart cards.
The new smart cards currently integrate with the organization's payroll and IT systems. "Now our employees can use their smart cards to open doors, use the time and attendance readers, and log on to their computers. This integration was a critical part of the project for us, and a driving factor for the entire conversion," said Russell Jones, Network Director Protective Services, Albert Einstein Healthcare Network. The Network views the employee badges as a gatekeeper to a variety of business systems throughout the healthcare network. Siemens Security Solutions Business Unit recommended the smart card technology for its expandability as needs change in the future.
Einstein and Siemens partnered with the smart card manufacturer to ensure the integration with the payroll system was seamless, making sure employees would continue to receive accurate paychecks on schedule. Programming payroll information involved extensive planning and testing before the new badges were distributed to employees.
Siemens helped Einstein integrate the smart cards with the IT system to help protect patient information and medical records, and enhance information security with single sign-on functionality.
Einstein's access control readers are spread over four Philadelphia-area hospitals and approximately 50 offsite primary care physician and surgical center locations. The new smart cards help improve physical security across the healthcare network by using encryption technology less susceptible to counterfeit and compromise than magnetic stripe badges.
To manage the conversion of 300 magnetic swipe readers to proximity readers, Siemens Security Solutions coordinated with the smart card manufacturer to produce dual technology cards for the initial rollout. The first batch of 7,000 new cards was compatible with both Wiegand swipe and proximity readers, allowing a phased approach to upgrading the access control system. Going forward, new employee badges will only require proximity reader technology.
Einstein plans further integration of business systems with the smart cards, including tracking employees' mandatory vaccinations, adding emergency physicians in case of a disaster, and incorporating a fifth hospital to the security network.
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About Siemens:
Siemens Industry
U.S. affiliate of Siemens' global Industry Sector business-the world's leading supplier of production, transportation and building technology solutions. The company's integrated hardware and software technologies enable comprehensive industry-specific solutions for industrial and infrastructure providers to increase their productivity, sustainability and profitability. The Industry Sector includes six divisions: Building Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility, Drive Technologies and OSRAM SYLVANIA. With nearly 222,000 Siemens Industry Sector employees worldwide, the Industry Sector posted a worldwide profit of $2.7 billion on revenues of $47.7 billion in fiscal 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/Industry
Building Technologies
A division of Siemens Industry, Inc. (SII), Building Technologies (BT) Division is a leading provider of energy and environmental solutions, building controls, electrical distribution equipment, fire safety and security systems solutions. BT's solutions enable America's buildings to be more comfortable, secure and environmentally friendly as well as less costly to operate. With a U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Ill., BT employs 7,400 people and provides a full range of services and solutions from more than 100 locations coast-to-coast. Worldwide, the company has 28,000 employees and operates from more than 500 locations in 51 countries. The Building Technologies Division posted worldwide revenues of $8.1 billion in fiscal 2009. www.usa.siemens.com/buildingtechnologies