On e-Confidentiality Conflicts in Medicine

Understanding the Potential Role of eMR Compromise

By Render Davis MHA CHE

www.BusinessofMedicalPractice.com

Whether it is an employer interested in the results of an employee’s health screening; an insurer attempting to learn more about an enrollee’s prior health history; the media in search of a story; or health planners examining the potential value of national health databases, the confidential nature of the traditional doctor-patient relationship may be compromised through demands for clinical information by parties other than the patient and treating caregivers. 

Impact of eMRs

In addition, without clear safeguards the growth in use of electronic medical records may put personal health information at risk of tampering or unauthorized access.  Clearly, employers and insurers are interested in the status of an individual’s health and ability to work; but does this desire to know, combined with their role as payers for health care, constitute a right to know?  The patient’s right to privacy remains a volatile and unresolved issue.

Assessment

Counter to this concern is the recognition that electronic records may dramatically improve communications by offering greater accessibility of information to clinicians in the hospital or office potentially reducing medical errors through elimination of handwritten notes, increased use of built in prompts and clinically-derived triggers for orders and treatments, and development of pathways for optimal treatments based on clinically valid and tested best practices.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this ME-P are appreciated. What do you think about this confidentiality conflict and the role of eMRs? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Medical Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com

Get our Widget: Get this widget!

Our Other Print Books and Related Information Sources:

Practice Management: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=23759

Physician Financial Planning: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/0763745790

Medical Risk Management: http://www.jbpub.com/catalog/9780763733421

Healthcare Organizations: www.HealthcareFinancials.com

Physician Advisors: www.CertifiedMedicalPlanner.com

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Sponsors Welcomed: And, credible sponsors and like-minded advertisers are always welcomed.

Link: https://healthcarefinancials.wordpress.com/2007/11/11/advertise