[smartcard-devel] RNSH - Hospital Linux System & Smart Cards

[Grahame M. K. <gm...@zi...>]

Hi All.

I am heading a SLUG/community based project at the largest hospital in
Sydney, Australia (Royal North Shore Hospital a.k.a. RNSH) together
with the head doctor of ICU (Intesive Care Unit) who also happens to
be a member of SLUG and on the Dept. of Health IT management
committee and RNSH IT group :-)

We have two large linux servers handling drug, patient and real time
ICU data collection. We are presently developing a "diskless client" 
proof-of-concept program where initially we have an opportunity to
replace 2000 windoze boxes with Linux X clients. 20,000++ if we hid
the big time.

We wish to develop a "follow-me-environment" using "contactless"
smart card technologies. A Follow-me-environment would allow doctors
to reenter their last X environment automatically where-ever they
roam, and it is envistaged we will be able to link bed (ie. Patient)
location with Doctor / Medical attendant card ID to automatically
modify each users environment & application i.e. preloading
each application with patient data. 
A big ask but we suspect we can do it.

Currently we are investigating Smart Card technologies, with the
major aim to use Open Source where ever possible. In the case where OS
drivers etc, are not available, then we will dedicate resources &
money to provide these if enought protocol and information can be
obtained. Telstra (Australian telco) has cards which they rent at
A$3/pa and the readers are only ~A$25. We are presenlty in
negotiations with them. Unfortunately we are fighting the MS axon.

Would anyone like to comment ?

We certainly would like to feedback our developments / improvements
and probably would require assistance now and then.

Cheers, Grahame
 --  SLUG (Sydney Linux User Group) www.slug.org.au  --