Why IT Must Embrace Data Security In Pushing EHRs

It’s pretty much a no-brainer that electronic recordkeeping technology, once integrated and deployed, will save big amounts of time and money for medical and healthcare enterprises.

One industry report notes that digital health records could reduce costs in the U.S. by an estimated $80 to 100 billion every year.

But it also promises some big headaches for IT department tasked with managing, storing, protecting and providing access to the digital files.

So the IT professional’s role also includes making sure the data remains secure and confidential in nature, which means protecting users’ privacy.

Right now, according to a new paper from researchers at North Carolina State University's College of Management, that isn’t happening. The document, “Privacy and Security in the Implementation of Health Information Technology (Electronic Health Records): U.S. and EU Compared,” was co-authored by Janine Hiller and Matthew McMullen of Virginia Tech and Wade Chumney of Georgia Tech.

“Using electronic records allows the health-care system to operate more efficiently, minimizes duplicative testing, et cetera. But you can only get those cost reductions if everyone, or nearly everyone, makes use of the records, from health-care providers to pharmacies to insurance companies,” notes Dr. David Baumer, head of the business management department at NC State and co-author of the paper.

What’s needed in the U.S. is more public support about boosting privacy when it comes to EMR adoption such as what’s happening in the European nations.

“We are moving in the right direction in regard to putting better privacy protections in place, but we have a long way to go,” Baumer says in a press statement. “For example, approximately 50 percent of people in the U.S. have EHRs, but doctors will have to check for paper records until EHRs are so widespread that checking for paper records is no longer considered due diligence.” By way of comparison, approximately 95 percent of people in Holland have EHRs.

The paper offers up both technical and legal recommendations that could make EHRs more viable, including introduction of civil penalties if people share information inappropriately.




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By: Judy Mottl