In its first step toward getting rid of all paper records, BioLife Plasma Services in Casper began using an electronic questionnaire system this week.

Donors no longer have to show identification, verbally answer questions with a nurse present or sign their name on a piece of paper.

They simply need to press the middle finger of their right hand onto a pad, which recognizes a person's pressure points, and answer the questions quickly and confidentially on a computer.

"You check in with that finger, sign with that finger, answer questions with that finger," said Clarence Wildeboer, regional manager for BioLife Plasma Services. "It's a new kind of technology."

This is just one of many organizations in the health care industry that is beginning to convert to an electronic system. Many doctor's offices, hospitals and other health care organizations are in the process of getting rid of paper medical charts and prescription pads.

The advantages of an electronic questionnaire system are obvious, Wildeboer said. He said it is faster and answers are more accurate and complete.

Brian Colby, manager of the Casper center on Landmark Drive, said the new system also protects patient confidentiality to a greater extent and donors feel much more comfortable answering the personal questions.

"It probably cuts off 15 minutes," Colby said. "That's a lot of time when you are talking about getting in and out of here as quickly as possible."

Before the new system, Colby said it took anywhere from an hour and a half to two hours to complete the entire donation process.

A computer now asks the same 25 questions that used to be asked verbally and recorded manually, such as, do you feel healthy, and have you recently gotten a tattoo?

Donors answer questions by themselves on a touch screen and the answers are saved in the computer system.

For Susan Edwards, who has donated plasma twice a week for the past six months, it was a whole new experience.

"It's quick and efficient," Edwards said. "You can get right in. I like the finger scan. It's a good way to identify someone."

She started donating plasma after a girl at the school where her husband teaches got really sick.

Kimberly Warner said she "loves" the new system. She has been donating twice a week since October of 2006.

"For some people those questions are really personal," Warner said. "This keeps the privacy."

Colby said the center began registering its donors in the electronic system last week by typing in patient information and scanning in finger pressure points. Three weeks ago employees began to be trained on the system.

According to Colby, it cost BioLife Plasma Services between $30,000 and $40,000 per center to convert to the new electronic questionnaire.

There are 55 such centers across the country and after the Casper location became electronic, the company has only nine left to convert.

The center in Laramie and the center in Cheyenne are already using the electronic questionnaire, Colby said.

Plasma is a blood product containing water and protein. BioLife Plasma Services centers from around the country collect plasma to make products and medicines to help burn victims, shock victims and people with immune system problems and other health conditions.

The centers still have paper records because nurses have to record other parts of the screening process such as blood checks, blood pressure readings and weights. Colby said the organization hopes to be completely electronic in two and a half years.

Colby said donors such as Edwards and Warner are the reason BioLife Plasma Services implemented this new system and wants to get rid of paper records.

"We are so big on customer service," Colby said. "We have to be. That's why we try to lessen the donation time. We are a business just like any other business."