Why Online Medical Record Keeping is perceived as the Greatest Confidentiality Threat essays

Why Online Medical Record Keeping is perceived as the Greatest Confidentiality Threat essays Computerization of medical health records will indeed promote the greater use of e-business in the medical/health arena. It will also provide physicians around the world with greater access to patient information and case studies. Tied to these benefits however, is the risk that the publication of medical records electronically poses a greater security risk and potential for breech of confidentiality. HIPAA has recently enacted legislation targeted toward simplifying e-business processes and standardizing processes, but the effectiveness of this legislation with respect to security issues has yet to be tested in the real world' marketplace. This idea is explored in greater detail below. The combination of medicine and computer technology is both promising and concerning. Alpert (2003) discusses the ubiquitous nature of the combination of medicine with computer technology, noting that computers have allowed the medical record "to be transformed from merely a chronicle of direct patient care to an essential tool of managed care." This idea is supported by other researchers including Gostin (1995) who points out those technological advances will become an essential aspect of care in the future rather than merely a convenience. Medical records store evidence of care a patient has received or will be receiving, and makes that information easily accessible to insurance agents, employers, managed care organizations and even state officials (Alpert, 2003). This may help the medical insurance approval process among other things. Naser information is increasing among individuals with no direct clinical relationship to the patient. This may include employers seeking information or non health related insurance agents. Because of the ease of use of the internet, and because of the potential for information to ...