(photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) David Ham) New computer technology is helping to protect patient information at the National Naval Medical Center. A new instruction from the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery mandates that all users of defense department computers at the hospital log-on using their Common Access Cards.

Staff members will soon be required to have an updated Common Access Card to ensure they can continue to operate a computer with the new technological changes taking place in the coming months.

Joe Davidge, privacy compliance officer for the National Naval Medical Center, said the instructions have been passed down from the Defense Department. There is a plan to ensure e-mails which contain health and personal identifiable information are digitally signed and encrypted.

Davidge said encryption technology, allows staff members at Bethesda to ensure patient information is secured, he said.

‘‘We have to make sure everyone’s [Common Access] cards are activated and updated,” Davidge said. ‘‘This applies to everyone, whether you are military, contracted or civilian staff.”

Lt. Cmdr. Tony Thornton, chief information officer and Information Technology’s department head, said Bethesda is about to implement a new requirement that will force everyone to use their Common Access Cards.

‘‘This is a [Defense Department] initiative that will enable our systems to better protect information,” Thornton said. ‘‘Everyone will be able to log on and take care of all the things Navy Medicine requires.”

When using the Common Access Cards to send information from Bethesda, the cards create a digital signature, Davidge said. The information being transmitted is encrypted and with the new technology in place only users with the same encryption technology will be able to open it, he said.

‘‘Documents will have a signature or identifier attached to them that says the person sending the information is who they say they are,” Davidge said.

Davidge said the biggest concern is ensuring the extra security measures are taken and Bethesda is in compliance with current instructions.

‘‘A lot of the information leaving the hospital right now is well taken into consideration concerning patient privacy,” Davidge said. ‘‘This will be a big help with making sure the information is protected ahead of time.”

Thornton said the new procedures will allow doctors to work and communicate with co-workers and patients while better protecting the information.