Hospital puts identity security in patient's hands

St, Petersburg, Florida- Some say the lines in your hand can reveal your future, your love life, and prosperity. St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Petersburg is using a palm scanner to protect your identity and medical records.

"The palm vein technology is a great enhancement for the safety of the patient across the BayCare hospitals, and gives us accessibility to patient information wherever they enter our system," said Bill Ulbright, the President of St Anthony's Hospital.

Patient Secure Identity uses near infrared light to map an image of the vein pattern in a person's palm. The digital image is then converted to a number that correlates with that patient's medical records. The first scanner was put into St. Anthony's in July and more than 15 thousand people have enrolled in the program.

BayCare plans to install 350 scanners at all 45 of its locations. Patients can decline the use of the palm vein scanner.