Some of the most private information about you may not be in the diary hidden underneath your bed or stored away in journals in your attic. It may be in a manila folder in a door-less room in the center of town. Surprised? Believe it or not, medical records are some of the most private and detailed accounts of a person’s life. Granted, the information is not always tabloid fodder, but it certainly is not something you would want to be public knowledge. Fortunately much effort is being made to keep medical records safe and secure from the scrutiny of random individuals. The advent of electronic medical records (EMR) or electronic health records (EHR) is actually a step towards greater security because they require the use of passwords, firewalls and security audits that detect when improper access has occurred. Nevertheless, simply because the records are computerized and accessed through the world-wide web, there are still some privacy advocates that keep the issue alive and in the forefront of lawmakers and private citizens alike. Despite privacy concerns, accurate medical records are a crucial factor in protecting and insuring the health of individuals.