Voice analysis is the science of using an individual’s vocal characteristics to verify them. This feature is increasingly used to authenticate individuals in virtual and physical spaces. Maintaining a level of security is not always easy, and access control is often the first and most important step.

In healthcare, a sector that relies on vast amounts of highly sensitive data, traditional security methods like passwords or PINs are often insufficient, as they are easy targets for hackers. Voice biometrics authentication provides a possible answer to this issue, helping to enhance patient privacy by providing a more secure, convenient, and user-friendly way to verify a person.

The urgency of data security in healthcare

In the US, over 80% of hospitals and 90% of office-based practices use electronic health records (EHRs). This often results in better, centralized healthcare records and easy access for healthcare professionals and patients. However, it also means increased security risks, as EHRs can be vulnerable to cyberattacks without adequate protection.

Any breach of this data can lead to devastating consequences for patients, from identity theft to the misuse of medical information. With the increasing digitalization of healthcare services, including patient portals and telemedicine, the threat of data breaches continues to grow.

According to industry reports, healthcare organizations are frequently targeted by hackers because of the high value of medical data. For instance, in 2023, the number of reported ransomware attacks on healthcare nearly doubled, with 389 victims globally, up from 214 in 2022.

In the United States alone, these attacks increased by 128%, affecting 258 healthcare entities. In this climate, healthcare providers must implement strong authentication systems to safeguard patient data.

Voice biometrics authentication as a more secure solution for patient privacy

Voice authentication analyzes content-agnostic voice audio, and then uses this to create a numerical representation of a voice profile. Each time a user calls, the software compares the caller’s voice profile against the one previously enrolled to generate an authentication score.

Unlike passwords or security questions that are easy to guess or steal, a person’s voice is challenging to replicate. Voice biometric authentication systems use advanced voice analysis to verify users based on their vocal characteristics and features, such as pitch, tone, and speech patterns, making it extremely difficult for fraudsters to impersonate someone.

Benefits of voice biometrics authentication

Voice biometric authentication offers many benefits, making it an ideal choice for healthcare providers seeking to enhance data security while improving patient experience.

Reduce the risk of identity theft

Identity theft is one of the biggest worries with EHRs.

Replay attacks also pose a risk, but many voice biometrics authentication systems have mechanisms in place to protect against them. That’s why this form of authentication provides stronger protection against unauthorized access.

Take control of your medical data

Voice biometrics authentication can give patients greater control over their medical data. With healthcare providers who use it, patients can more easily and securely access their information. This reduces the need for passwords or knowledge-based authentication (KBA) that can easily become compromised.

Access your patient portal with ease

​​With voice authentication, accessing patient portals becomes seamless. Instead of remembering complex passwords or undergoing lengthy verification processes, patients can simply use their voice to log in. This improves the overall user experience while maintaining higher levels of security.

Experience frictionless telemedicine

Despite the ease of access and the benefits for those with physical disabilities or weak immune systems, telemedicine comes with unique security challenges.

Voice biometrics authentication provides an efficient authentication option for telemedicine sessions, helping ensure the right patient receives the care they need. This helps both patients and healthcare providers feel more confident that interactions are secure.

Strengthen access control

In environments that rely on sensitive patient information, such as hospitals or contact centers, voice biometrics authentication can improve access control by adding an extra layer of security. Each person, whether a patient or a healthcare provider, can use voice authentication, to better ensure that only authorized personnel can handle sensitive information.

Reduce administrative burden

By streamlining the authentication process, voice biometrics authentication can reduce the administrative burden on healthcare providers. Contact center agents or other staff members no longer need to use lengthy and often insecure means, such as asking security questions, to verify callers. This not only saves time but also creates a more accurate verification process.

How voice biometrics authentication can help you protect patient information

Voice biometrics authentication can provide increased security protection for patient information in several ways, from stronger verification to improved accuracy and security in healthcare delivery.

Multifactor authentication

Voice biometrics authentication is often part of a multifactor authentication system, where a voice is used alongside other verification forms, such as a password or a fingerprint.

This combination increases security by adding an extra layer of protection, making it more difficult for malicious actors to gain access.

Reduced risk of errors

Mitigates human error

Human error is one of the leading causes of data breaches in healthcare. By automating the authentication process with voice biometrics authentication, healthcare organizations can reduce the likelihood of mistakes, such as incorrect data entry or verification errors made by agents.

Improved accuracy in telemedicine

In telemedicine, accurate patient identification is critical for providing appropriate care. Voice biometrics authentication helps confirm that the authorized patient is receiving care, reducing the risk of mix-ups that could lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate treatment.

Enhanced security measures

Real-time authentication

Some voice biometric systems authenticate users based on voice patterns and use liveness detection to help ensure that the voice belongs to a human and not a recording or synthetic imitation.

This added layer of protection helps prevent sophisticated fraud attempts, making it even harder for attackers to spoof or manipulate the system using pre-recorded audio or deepfake technologies.

Continuous monitoring

In addition to one-time verification, voice biometrics authentication systems can continuously analyze a user’s voice throughout a session, adding a layer of security by detecting any changes that might indicate potential fraud or unauthorized access.

Positive impact on overall patient safety

Reduced risk of identity theft

Voice biometrics authentication provides stronger verification, helping to reduce the risk of identity theft in healthcare and to protect patients from the potential financial and medical repercussions of stolen personal information.

Improved medication safety

When you integrate voice biometrics authentication into patient management systems, you help ensure that each patient receives the correct medication. This can prevent errors that could occur when manually verifying the person’s identity.

Enhanced telemedicine security

Voice biometrics authentication can improve security in telemedicine by providing real-time authentication for all communications, helping protect patients and healthcare providers from fraud and data breaches.

Addressing concerns about voice biometrics authentication

While voice biometrics authentication provides many security benefits, there are concerns about this technology’s potential risks and limitations. For instance, a 2023 survey revealed that 85% of consumers had concerns about using biometric technology.

This was largely because of the rise of generative AI and the possibility that companies will misuse their data. Some users also worry about background noise affecting the accuracy of voice verification.

These aren’t small concerns, but voice biometrics authentication technology has addressed many of them recently. For instance, modern systems incorporate liveness detection, which can differentiate between a human voice and a machine-generated or recorded one. Advanced algorithms can filter background noise so that the system works with high accuracy even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Another concern many organizations have is the high costs of biometric authentication. Plus, to work correctly, this technology will often require advanced technology and highly specialized personnel.

Using a solution, such as Pindrop® Passport, that offers a secure platform for voice authentication and helps assess risk on every call while offering a user-friendly interface can reduce the risk on healthcare organizations.

This approach minimizes the need for various specialized software, offering a simple yet comprehensive solution. The transition may feel like a significant investment at first, but it can help you save costs in the long run.

Better protect your patient’s privacy

With more of our healthcare data online and the rise of telemedicine, we need to prioritize securing patient data. Voice biometrics authentication provides a robust and user-friendly way to protect patient privacy, reduce identity theft risk, and improve the overall customer experience.

Solutions like Pindrop® Passport offer healthcare providers and contact centers a secure, convenient means of authenticating patients while addressing concerns associated with voice analytics use.

With voice biometrics authentication technology, healthcare organizations can enhance security, and improve patient safety, all while offering a more seamless, convenient experience for patients.