Company Secures Privacy and Integrity Critical to Patient Care
WASHINGTON, April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- FOSE 2003 -- Fortress Technologies,
the leader in security for wireless networks, announced today that the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is deploying its AirFortress (TM) products
to secure the wireless networks used for its BarCode Medication Administration
(BCMA) program. Fortress Technologies will ensure patient privacy for VA
medical centers by protecting the wireless data transmission of patient
information used in the BCMA program.
More than 7,000 Americans die each year from medication dispensing errors,
according to a study by the Institute of Medicine (IOM). In order to
eliminate such errors, VA developed the BCMA program, a wireless system used
for real-time retrieval of medical information from barcodes on patients'
wristbands. The system prevents errors by electronically alerting health care
providers to any potential problems or inconsistencies before medication is
given. BCMA is the primary application used to support inpatient medication
administration and has become a key component of quality assurance throughout
VA medical center system.
VA is in the process of deploying AirFortress Wireless Security Gateways
to protect both the medical networks and wireless communications in
167 hospitals and centers.
"The FDA's recent proposal to support programs like BCMA by placing
barcodes on all medication dispensed in hospitals is evidence that wireless
applications can revolutionize patient care and save lives," said Shawn
Hughes, president and chief executive officer, Fortress Technologies. "As the
protection of patient privacy is a critical success factor for any health care
program, we are proud that VA has chosen AirFortress products as the security
solution for its wireless infrastructure."
AirFortress products provide robust protection to ensure privacy for
wireless LANs and to defend against a wide range of attacks used to interrupt
or intercept wireless LAN traffic. With additional customers including Tampa
General Hospital, the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force, Fortress Technologies
currently leads the market in number of units deployed.
About Fortress Technologies
Fortress Technologies offers the most flexible and market proven security
products that address the inherent risks and vulnerabilities of 802.11 and
other wireless networks. The flagship AirFortress product offers a trusted
and easy-to-use security solution that ensures the business integrity demanded
by global 1000 companies, government agencies and healthcare organizations.
AirFortress was the first product to meet the U.S. government's rigorous
standards for wireless network security, certified by the National Institute
of Standards and Technologies (NIST) and the Department of Defense, among
others. Privately-held Fortress Technologies is headquartered in Tampa,
Florida, with partners and resellers worldwide. For more information, contact
us at http://www.fortresstech.com or 813-288-7388.
SOURCE Fortress Technologies
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Related links:
http://www.fortresstech.com
CONTACT:
Wendy Mozingo of Fortress Technologies,
+1-813-784-2119, wmozingo@fortresstech.com; or Stacy Puskar of
FitzGerald Communications, +1-202-912-4423,
spuskar@fitzgerald.com, for Fortress Technologies
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