Hackensack Meridian Health is partnering with identity technology company CLEAR to introduce a digital identity system designed to simplify how patients access care across the network. The agreement makes Hackensack Meridian the first health system in the tri-state area to deploy CLEAR’s platform.
The partnership integrates CLEAR’s digital identity technology, known as CLEAR1, with Epic MyChart system. Patients will be able to verify their identity with a photo instead of traditional paperwork, allowing for faster account creation, password resets, and eventually appointment check-in at kiosks.
Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health, said the collaboration reflects the hospital network’s push to rethink the patient experience.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is fundamentally changing what it means to be a patient, starting at the front door,” Garrett said. “Our partnership with CLEAR will make the check-in process as simple and secure as CLEAR’s airport experience. This is a powerful example of how we leverage technology to enhance the patient experience, improve access, and reimagine healthcare for our communities.”
Frictionless, Safer, Faster
The rollout will begin with MyChart account creation and password reset features. The John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center will be the first in the nation to offer CLEAR’s kiosk check-in, allowing patients to sign in for appointments by snapping a photo. The system is also scheduled to launch at Hackensack Meridian Health and Wellness Center in Eatontown before expanding across the network.
CLEAR, best known for its airport security lanes, serves more than 33 million members nationwide. CEO Caryn Seidman Becker said the move into health care highlights the growing importance of secure digital identity in everyday services.
“CLEAR’s mission is to make experiences safer and easier by connecting you to your secure identity,” she said. “Our partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health is transforming patient check-in from a friction-filled moment into a seamless, secure experience. Together, we’re helping people get to the care they need, faster and easier.”
The collaboration is also expected to improve efficiency for hospital operations by reducing the reliance on paper forms and manual identity verification. Hackensack Meridian officials said the network will continue to explore ways to expand CLEAR’s technology into other parts of the patient journey.
By adopting digital identity verification, Hackensack Meridian Health is positioning itself as an early mover in health care innovation. New Jersey’s largest healthcare network has attracted national recognition for adopting new models of patient care and technology.
What is CLEAR?
CLEAR is a secure digital identity platform best known for speeding travelers through airport security. Members verify their identity with a photo or fingerprint instead of showing a driver’s license or boarding pass.
The company has more than 33 million members nationwide and has expanded into sports stadiums, entertainment venues, and now health care. Its technology is designed to make everyday check-ins — whether for a flight, a ballgame, or a doctor’s visit — faster and more secure.
Hackensack Meridian Health: A Record of Firsts
- First in the tri-state region to adopt CLEAR’s digital identity for patient check-in.
- First cancer center in the nation — John Theurer Cancer Center — to launch CLEAR’s kiosk technology.
- First in New Jersey to implement Epic’s electronic health record system statewide, giving patients unified access to their medical information.
- Early leader in telehealth, expanding virtual care programs before the COVID-19 pandemic.
- National recognition for Hackensack University Medical Center, ranked among the top 20 hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report 2025–26.
