Sentara Patient Identification System

Providing safe patient care starts with accurate patient identification. Having your unique palm scan to identify you ensures Sentara will open your unique electronic health record to review your history and document your care at each visit.

Near-infrared light is the shortest wavelength of infrared light. It does not give off heat and is the type of infrared light used in devices such as night vision goggles and in TV remote control devices.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the scanner hand guide can be cleaned effectively with any sanitizing agent. The hand guide is sanitized after each use.

In a large organization such as Sentara, it is common to have multiple patients with the same name. Sometimes as many as a dozen may have the same first and last name, even the same middle initial and/or birth date.

Patients with the same name may have clinic visits on the same day or be hospitalized during the same time period, increasing the risk of misidentification. In addition, your palm scan can identify you, even if you are unconscious or otherwise not able to communicate.

Yes. Children will be scanned beginning at age 5. They will be rescanned each year until age 15 due to growth of their hands.

The scan file will be used only to identify patients during the registration process.

You will receive care by using traditional forms of identification. We recommend palm vein scanning because of the extra safety and security it provides.