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A word about privacy and medical records
Home » Healthcare Administration » Medical Records » A word about privacy and medical recordsThe Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as many provisions meant to protect the patient and at the same time, provide for the release of records to those necessary in the treatment or care of the patient. Patients can choose some types of restrictions on who gets the information. The biggest buzz in the issue of privacy and health records is regarding the creation of a national database for health records. This would transform the current system of electronic medical records where the doctor has his or her own password to access your information to more national or potentially worldwide types of access to medical information. The change of only your doctor having access to your records to any doctor having access would be a welcomed thing in the advent of an emergency in a location away from your primary care doctor. However, those concerned about this worry about the impact the abuse of such a system could have: would employers find out information and refuse employment? Would financial institutions hesitate to loan money to someone with a debilitating disease? These concerns are very valid.
Sources:
www.epic.org
www.privacyrights.org
www.wikipedia.org
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