Balancing efficiency with security when authenticating your healthcare staff
Learn how Seattle Children’s Hospital and Freeman Health System used Imprivata Enterprise Access Management (EAM) to streamline authentication, enhance security, and improve patient care without slowing down their staff.
In healthcare, every second matters. A nurse rushing to access a patient’s electronic health record in an emergency doesn’t have time to wrestle with multiple login screens, password resets, or sluggish authentication processes. But at the same time, patient data is one of the most valuable targets for cybercriminals, making airtight security a non-negotiable requirement. This creates a constant struggle for hospitals: how do you ensure security without slowing down clinical workflows?
Seattle Children’s Hospital and Freeman Health System both faced this challenge. Each organization had a vast network of applications, devices, and systems that their staff needed to access quickly and securely. The burden of inefficient authentication processes had become a major issue – not just for IT teams, but also clinicians and the patients they serve.
The efficiency problem: when security slows things down
At Seattle Children’s Hospital, clinicians had to navigate multiple logins for different systems, often losing valuable time just trying to access critical applications. Passwords were a constant headache — both a security risk and a source of frustration. A similar challenge impacted Freeman Health System, where staff struggled with authentication processes that weren’t built for the fast-paced nature of healthcare.
It wasn’t just a matter of convenience. These inefficiencies had real consequences. Delayed access to systems meant delayed care. Time spent logging in was time taken away from patients. And when workarounds like sharing passwords or staying logged in on shared devices inevitably emerged, new security vulnerabilities were created.
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Seattle Children’s Hospital
Seattle Children’s Hospital strengthens digital identity security and improves clinician experiences with Imprivata
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Freeman Health System
Freeman Health System enables fast, efficient authentications and easy, secure third-party access
The security challenge: protecting data in a high-risk environment
While clinicians at Seattle Children’s and Freeman Health System were focused on providing care, IT and security teams were constantly battling an invisible but growing threat. Healthcare organizations are prime targets for cyberattacks, and weak authentication processes create an easy entry point for bad actors.
For both hospitals, the stakes were high. They needed a solution that would not only speed up access but also strengthen security and help meet stringent compliance requirements. That’s where Imprivata Enterprise Access Management (EAM) came in.
The transformation: speed and security without compromise
Seattle Children’s and Freeman Health System both turned to Imprivata EAM to strike the right balance between security and efficiency. The results were immediate and far-reaching:
- Single sign-on (SSO) at Seattle Children’s: Clinicians no longer had to waste time logging into multiple applications. With one set of credentials, they could access everything they needed instantly, eliminating friction in their workflows.
- Multifactor authentication (MFA) at Seattle Children’s: By providing multiple authentication factors, the hospital strengthened the security of patient information.
- Fast and efficient authentications at Freeman Health System: Staff could quickly log in and out of critical systems, allowing them to stay focused on patient care instead of struggling with login barriers.
- Advanced analytical capabilities at both hospitals: Real-time insights into user activity with advanced analytics helped IT teams detect anomalies and proactively mitigate risks before they became security incidents.
The result: a better experience for clinicians, IT teams, and patients
With Imprivata EAM, both Seattle Children’s and Freeman Health System achieved what once seemed impossible: strong security without disrupting workflows. Clinicians could access electronic health records and other applications faster, reducing frustration and improving patient care. IT teams could rest easier knowing they had better control over security risks.
And most importantly, patient safety remained the top priority, protected by an authentication process that worked for — not against — the healthcare providers on the front lines.
The lesson: the right technology makes all the difference
Balancing security with efficiency doesn’t have to be a contradiction. With standardized workflows powered by badge-tap access and streamlined multifactor authentication, hospitals can eliminate unnecessary barriers while maintaining ironclad security.
Seattle Children’s Hospital and Freeman Health System proved that the right solution can transform authentication from a burden into a seamless, empowering experience. The question is – how much time is inefficient authentication costing your team, and what’s it worth to get that time back?;