The current pandemic has accelerated the adoption of new technologies and digital health capabilities, which begs the question, what’s next in health technology?
This digital transformation is encouraging healthcare systems to convert their paper-based medical records to digital, creating new avenues for innovation. With digitization, cybersecurity also becomes a top priority, especially when managing sensitive information, such as a patient’s medical history.
Biometric identifiers are gaining popularity as a way to provide an additional layer of security in the healthcare sector. The global healthcare biometrics market is estimated to surpass $13.9 million in revenue in 2025.
These identifiers are measurable unique characteristics of an individual. They can be physiological (such as fingerprints, iris, retina, DNA) or behavioral (such as typing rhythm, voice, and gait) traits used to positively identify a person. Among these, voice biometrics, which captures a person’s unique speech patterns, is a convenient and secure method of verifying a speaker’s identity.
Fast, frictionless, & cost-effective
Voice biometrics is a secure authentication method since voices vary according to the shape of the vocal tract as well as a person’s speaking style, making them unique to each individual. Voice technologies can not only recognize the voice of the person speaking, but also what is being said. There are many cases in the healthcare industry where this method of verification can be integrated to increase security.
Healthcare professionals can log in to online portals where medical records are stored using voice verification which reduces data breaches, medical identity theft or unauthorized access to doctor-patient records. In the age of telemedicine, proving a patient or doctor’s identity online can be complicated, therefore, voice biometrics can help detect and prevent fraud.
With one single interaction, doctors and patients can speed up tasks such as resetting passwords to their electronic records. This also includes identifying and verifying patients during customer service exchanges in call centers or interactions with voice AI assistants like Vozy’s Lili. In the event of an emergency, voice biometrics would allow healthcare professionals to quickly access a patient’s medical information, saving precious time.
In the age of telemedicine, proving a patient or doctor’s identity online can be complicated, therefore, voice biometrics can help detect and prevent fraud.
Integrating this type of technology would require little hardware, making it a cost-effective solution. Any device equipped with a microphone and a network connection can be used, in other words, all that is needed is a phone. In Latin America, where mobile penetration is approximately 69% of the population, this authentication method represents a huge opportunity.
As the healthcare sector embarks on its digital transformation, new security measures must be taken into account in the changing landscape. Voice biometrics are an excellent and cost-effective way to increase security and make the transition to digital as seamless as possible.
