LifeMed Card Inc., a supplier of smart card solutions for the domestic hospital market, announced that it has entered into a contract to supply its Patient Smart Card Software Platform to Sarasota Memorial Hospital, an 806-bed regional medical center in Sarasota, Fla.

The LifeMed software uses smart cards, secure readers, and kiosks to streamline patient admissions, reduce duplicate records and record errors, while establishing an electronic bi-directional connection between the hospital, physicians’ offices, clinics and EMR’s.

Initially, selected Sarasota patients will be issued smart cards. Data from the patient smart cards will automatically authenticate and admit the patient into Sarasota Memorial, using electronic signatures, thereby eliminating the standard clip board.

Data from the portable patient smart cards is used to populate required admissions forms and update the existing medical records. The process can be completed in less than three minutes, as compared to a formal intake interview, often taking up to twenty minutes. Additionally, physician’s offices and clinics that refer into Sarasota will have access to LifeMed online and patient smart card readers which can connect, review and update patient information, helping to establish a more complete Continuity of Care medical record.

Initial roll-out of the program is scheduled for second quarter 2010.