SCM Microsystems Provides Smart Card Readers for European NETC@RDS Health Care Project |
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SCM Microsystems, Inc.
466 Kato Terr
Fremont, CA, 94539
USA
Press release date: June 13, 2006
Readers Enable Multi-Country Health Card Usage During 2006 World Cup
FREMONT, Calif., June 13 /-- SCM Microsystems, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCMM)(NASDAQ:Prime)(NASDAQ:Standard:)(NASDAQ:SMY), a leading provider of solutions that open the Digital World, today announced that it is providing smart card readers for the European NETC@RDS project during the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany.
SCM's SCR3311 smart card readers are being used to read data from new European health cards as well as the national health cards of various countries, enabling World Cup athletes, staff and visitors from participating nations to gain rapid access to health care services while at the games. In addition to providing a common software platform to read cards from multiple European countries, the readers make it possible for national health cards, rather than cumbersome paper forms, to be used as the base for billing with insurance companies while traveling. SCM's smart card readers are compatible with health cards from all countries participating in the NETC@RDS program and compliant to the relevant standards for e-health programs throughout Europe.
During the 2006 World Cup, SCM's readers are being implemented in about 20 hospitals near where the soccer matches will take place. A broader circulation of the readers to additional health care facilities in Germany will follow over the next several months.
"The 2006 World Cup follows the Olympic Games in Athens as the second international mass event where the NETC@RDS program has been made available to health card holders," said Dr. Gerhard Brenner, NETC@RDS spokesman from the central research institute of ambulatory Health Care in Germany. "The use of smart cards to provide data significantly reduces administrative operations at these venues. The NETC@RDS project is not only a more modern approach, but is built on current national health initiatives to ensure that ongoing program investments are protected."
"We are pleased that our readers are once again being used to provide support the NETC@RDS project at a major world sporting event," said Robert Schneider, chief executive officer of SCM Microsystems. "NETC@RDS offers substantial advantages to citizens as well as insurance companies, providing rapid access to health care services in European countries and simplification of billing for those services."
About the NETC@RDS Project
The NETC@RDS Project aims to improve the access of mobile citizens to trans-European health services by using advanced Web-oriented applications based on IT systems, smart cards or a combination of both. It also aims to implement and evaluate technical solutions for the electronification of the European Health Insurance Card and for improving additional services such as the inter-European health costs clearing/billing processing. The consortium of the NETC@RDS Project includes partners from France, Germany, Austria, Greece, Finland, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary and sub-contractors and/or supporters in many of the participating countries.
About the Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care in the Federal Republic of Germany (ZI)
The Central Research Institute of Ambulatory Health Care in the Federal Republic of Germany is a non-profit research institute that was founded in 1973. The field of research concentrates on issues of the health system with priority to out-patient care. The research work of the Central Research Institute is based on empirical inquiries and anonymous data of the patient's demand for services as documented by out-patient care providers. A focus is given to disease management programs, screening programs and the introduction of secure telematic applications in healthcare. There is a close co-operation between the Central Research Institute, university departments and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology and the Federal Ministry of Health. Together with the insurance company AOK Baden Wurttemberg, the institute coordinates the NETC@RDS project within Germany.
About SCM Microsystems
SCM Microsystems is a leading supplier of solutions that open the Digital World by enabling people to conveniently access digital content and services. The company develops, markets and sells the industry's broadest range of smart card reader technology for secure PC, network and physical access and digital media readers for transfer of digital content to OEM customers in the government, financial, enterprise, consumer electronics and photographic equipment markets worldwide. Global headquarters are in Fremont, California, with European headquarters in Ismaning, Germany. For additional information, visit the SCM Microsystems web site at scmmicro.com.
Source: SCM Microsystems, Inc.
CONTACT: Annika Oelsner, +49 89 95 95 5220, or aoelsner@scmmicro.de, or Darby Dye, +1-510-360-2302, or ddye@scmmicro.com
Web site: http://scmmicro.com/
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