Security, And Electronic Health Records
The increased trends in the adaption of technology have affected how healthcare provides record and store patient information. Electronic patient information is accessed and stored through technology to allow easy and convenient access by the care providers. Despite the Security and privacy issues related to electronic patient information, the data available in the data are essential in the decision-making process, research, education, and assessment of the quality of care. Individuals have the right to privacy and protection over their health information. However, since the patients rely on the services provided by the healthcare systems, the government should remain with the mandate only through effective strategies that ensure confidentiality and privacy.
The government creates different policies that ensure the patients have accessed the services that improve their health status. Entrusting the healthcare systems with the information allows the system to improve service delivery and quality of Healthcare (“Privacy, Security, and Electronic Health Records”, 2020). The government, however, needs to create policies that safeguard the patient’s electronic health information. The United States Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) created security measures that ensure the patient’s health information is protected. Systems adaption of such measures reduces the risk of privacy and confidentiality violation.
The measures created HIPAA included building electronic health records with access control tool. Tools such as passwords and PINs got applied to the system to ensure no unwanted parties accessed the data. The measures also ensure that the stored information gets Encrypted to enable only the allowed parties to read and understand the information(“Privacy, Security, and Electronic Health Records”, 2020). Parties that access the patient’s information apply specific keys to decrypt the information into understandable data. Finally, the stored data would get assessed through an audit trail to identify who accesses, what gets changed, and when they get accessed. These allow the healthcare facilities to get responsible and accountable.
Government healthcare systems should keep patient electronic health records if they adopt effective measures. The measures reduce the patient’s worry and reduce the risk of violating the patient’s privacy.
References
Privacy, Security, and Electronic Health Records. (2020). Retrieved 15 July 2020, from https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/consumers/privacy-security-electronic-records.pdf