OHIP Health Card Reader – EMHware Help Centre

EMHware's OHIP Health Card Reader can be used to create new client datasets or update existing client datasets.

A wired USB card reader is recommended for this feature to function. Ensure your card reader is connected to your computer as you proceed through the workflow below.

Only Ontario's Green health cards with a functional magnetic stripe can be scanned. Older versions of health cards are not applicable.

Using the OHIP Health Card Reader

Ensure your card reader is plugged into your computer's USB port.
Select the blue card icon displayed on the top right of the platform.
The page will redirect to a New Client page → Select the Scan code field.
Swipe your OHIP health card on the reader device. EMHware will then check whether the Health Card number is already associated with an existing client file.

Note: Client matching is based on the Health Card Number (HCN). If an existing client file does not have an HCN saved, or has a different HCN, creating a new file from this screen may result in a duplicate client record.
When the health card information populates, the following fields will appear on the screen:
- First Name
- Middle Name
- Last Name
- DOB (Date of Birth)
- Health Card Number
- Health Card Version

If no information appears:

Select the green Refresh button and swipe the card again.
If the issue persists:
- Possible issue with the health card’s magnetic stripe: Test your device with a different health card.
- Possible issue with the card reader: Ensure the reader is plugged into a working USB port. Contact your administrator to test another card reader if needed.

If the information does not match an existing client file → select Create new client.

The page will redirect to the New Client Dataset screen, and the information above will populate automatically. Complete any remaining required fields, such as Gender, then select Save.

A new client dataset and file will be created. Update the dataset and file as needed.
If the scanned Health Card number already exists in a dataset, a notification will appear: "A client with the specified Health Card number already exists."

If any scanned details do not match the existing file, corrected information will appear in red text beneath the corresponding field.

Note: The Health Card Reader displays scanned names in all capital letters. A red current value notice may appear when capitalization differs from the existing file, even if the name itself is correct.
- Select Update to apply changes to the existing dataset.
- Select Display to view the existing dataset and file.

In the example above:
- The First Name “TEST” is accepted, as the spelling and capitalization match the existing file.
- The Middle Name “JOHNNY” is flagged, since the spelling and capitalization differ from the existing file “Jonny”.
- The Last Name “CLIENT” is flagged, as only the capitalization differs from the existing file “Client”.