Date: 20/02/2011

ST's ID chip inside LifeNexus' personal health card

ST Microelectronics and LifeNexus has announced that ST Microelectronics will produce the iChip microprocessor for the LifeNexus Personal Health Card. The Personal Health Card is the first multi-purpose electronic health card utilizing the embedded iChip for securely maintaining an individual's personal health record, with a payment card option on the same card.

"This is without a doubt a profound, highly secure technology providing a remarkable consumer solution - a healthcare and financial payment card in one," said Marie-France Florentin, General Manager, Secure Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics. "Together, STMicroelectronics and LifeNexus are delivering a solution that raises the bar on mobility, security, and convenience within healthcare."

The LifeNexus Personal Health Card was designed specifically to secure and maintain an individual's Personal Health Record (PHR) on a card in their wallet. The patented iChip, "Individually Controlled Health Information Platform," utilizes "mobile server" technology embedded on a chip card which is both encrypted and password-protected, providing a highly secure environment to store comprehensive health information for individuals and their family members. Christopher Maus, CEO of LifeNexus said "For years, consumers have trusted the cards in their wallet to transact personal finances. Now these same cards can maintain their health records, providing physicians' vital and potentially life-saving information from a computer chip on your card."

"When consumers are in control over their personal health records, the exchange of health information becomes considerably more convenient and secure. An optional traditional payment card feature is available, giving individuals extraordinary flexibility," said Christopher Maus. The consumer ensures privacy between themselves and their healthcare provider through consumer-authorized access. An individual's information stays in their wallet, not on a web-based server. This eliminates consumer concerns about storing sensitive data on an unrelated third party web server, while also supporting the adoption of electronic medical records by their health care providers.