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WHAT IS VERIMED™?
Applied Digital, and its wholly owned subsidiary VeriChip Corporation, are the industry pioneers and market leaders in subdermal radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. The VeriMed System (which has been FDA-cleared for healthcare applications) offers patients, through subdermal implantation, accurate and positive identification and immediate access to medical and other critical databases. VeriMed is tamper-proof, loss-proof, and, completely under the patient’s control.
Many consumers are familiar with RFID tags that are attached to various consumer products. These “asset-based” tags which are used commonly by retailers make an important and positive contribution but they are, of necessity, under the control of the seller or the owner of the consumer product. In contrast, the VeriMed system places the technology under the patient’s control.
VeriChip Corporation’s most important application, which has been cleared for marketing by the FDA, is the VeriMed System for health records. The VeriMed microchip does not store health records. Rather, it stores a unique identification number, dedicated solely for rapid, secure patient identification and access to a health record database or other relevant databases. In all other respects, the unique microchip ID number is meaningless.
VERICHIP AND PATIENT CONTROL
In our VeriMed health records application, both the content of the database itself and eligibility for access to the database are under the control of the VeriMed patient. VeriChip approves the medical facilities, emergency facilities and doctors eligible to use VeriMed readers and to access our database (each approved facility or doctor, a VeriMed “Facility”). Even then, VeriMed patients decide which VeriChip Facilities, out of the group cleared to use the database, may obtain access to the patient’s particular information. In fact, the patient can dictate what information is revealed to whom. By using this system of permissions, the patient maintains control. And, control is the bedrock of privacy. Further, control will always remain with the patient because, as both a practical and a legal matter, only the patient may grant permission for the implantation and retention of the VeriMed microchip.
HOW THE VERIMED SYSTEM WORKS
About the size of a grain of rice, each VeriMed microchip is a miniaturized RFID device that contains a unique 16-digit verification number.
The insertion procedure, which is typically done in a physician’s office, lasts just a few minutes and involves only local anesthetic followed by quick, painless insertion of the microchip. The recommended location of the microchip is in the triceps area between the elbow and the shoulder of the right arm. Once inserted, the microchip is inconspicuous to the naked eye. VeriChip provides authorized Facilities with a handheld reader to access the unique verification number held by the VeriMed microchip – if, and only if, the patient authorizes access. Authorized users may obtain instant access to patient data stored on the VeriChip Patient Registry – through secure, encrypted, password protected web access to patient-supplied or authorized information.
Use of advanced VeriChip technology means that the risk of theft, loss, duplication, or counterfeiting of data is minimized. While the health information application is the most obvious, VeriChip also has unique utility for numerous, key security, defense, homeland security and secure-access applications.
WHY VERICHIP CARES ABOUT PRIVACY
Ensuring patient privacy is the ethical responsibility of VeriChip Corporation and is critical in order to attract and retain patients. VeriChip’s current and prospective patients are interested in the VeriMed system because they want, or more likely they need, to have a convenient, rapid, loss-proof means of being identified in specialized circumstances. But those patients and prospective patients would not and should not tolerate a system that compromised their privacy. These are the reasons VeriChip considers privacy a necessary and core element of its functionality.
PATIENT RIGHTS
Notice and Education. Patients are informed during registration about all aspects of the VeriMed process, including:
- The medical procedures used to insert and remove a VeriMed microchip;
- The information contained on the VeriMed microchip;
- How the contents of the VeriMed microchip can be read;
- Other information that may be collected and linked to the information on the chip; and
- The patient’s right to remove the chip and control related information pursuant to the VeriChip privacy principles.
Choice. VeriMed microchips are only implanted in patients with their express written and informed consent. In addition, VeriMed patients are provided with choices regarding how their information is used and disclosed.
Access and Correction. We provide each patient access to all personal information about that patient that is maintained on VeriChip’s information registry. In addition, patients have the ability correct or update or to request the correction or updating of inaccurate or incomplete data contained in their accounts.
Right of Withdrawal. VeriMed patients can have their microchip removed and discontinue their participation in our program at any time.
VERICHIP’S PRIVACY PROGRAM
Chief Privacy Officer. We have appointed a Chief Privacy Officer to oversee our privacy program. This program includes ensuring that all of our products comply with and incorporate privacy protections; that we respond to any inquiries or complaints by patients; that we train our employees to carryout our privacy policies; and that we work with our affiliates to ensure that VeriMed patients receive appropriate privacy protections.
Company-wide Privacy Practices. Privacy is not just the responsibility of our Chief Privacy Officer. All VeriChip employees and affiliates are responsible for safeguarding the personal information of VeriMed patients in the course of carrying out their job responsibilities.
Data Security. We employ appropriate administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect the information contained on the VeriChip and information linked to it. The unique identifier embedded in the VeriMed microchip, for example, is encrypted to prevent unauthorized persons from reading it.
Use and Disclosure. VeriMed microchips may only be used – and the personal information of patients collected as a part of their participation in a VeriMed program may only be used and disclosed – in order to administer and provide the service that the patient has requested and as may be required by law.
Enforcement. We periodically audit our internal practices to ensure our compliance with our privacy policies and principles.
Engagement. We pledge to participate – politely, considerately and actively – in the ongoing development of strong and appropriate RFID privacy and security law and policy.
Future Changes. We reserve the right to change our Privacy Policy. When we make changes, we provide notice to Subscribers and, of course, our Subscribers may opt to withdraw their microchip if they are dissatisfied with the new policy.
AFFILIATE SAFEGUARDS
Participation. We carefully select the medical facilities, physicians and other authorized reader users (Facilities). In addition, our patients may opt to shield all or some of their data from any particular Facilities.
Code of Conduct. The Facilities are already subject to the comprehensive privacy and security regulations prescribed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In addition, we are asking all of our business partners, vendors and distributors that need to have access to any patient information (Affiliates) to adopt and adhere to our VeriChip Affiliates Code of Conduct. That Code of Conduct requires our Affiliates to adopt privacy and security standards customized to take into account the statutory and regulatory privacy and security standards that already apply to them.
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 "Privacy is our ethical responsibility... VeriChip considers privacy a necessary element at the very core of the VeriChip™ functionality."
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