Data Privacy in Electronic Health Records System - Essay Example

Data Privacy in Electronic Health Records (EHR) systemI chose this topic because of benefits of the EHRs to the health care fraternity and its ability to store records and retrieve information on the patient when required. Electronic Health Record system is a digital collection of patient’s health information that can be shared transversely through a network connection among different health care providers and clinicians (Fetter 408). Patient’s data like age, medical history, the medication and payment information may be stored in the system.

Allergies, immunization status, and test results may also be stored in the system. Radiology images for the patient are uploaded in the system, and this ensures no repetition of steps ones done on the patient. The data stored in the system are accurate and updated on regular basis and require data banks for that process. Patient’s state is captured, and his/her medical history can be retrieved at ease when needed by the medical personnel despite the density of the data at their end user. In that case, privacy and confidentiality become an issue (Fetter 409).

The confidentiality is at risk because information may easily get into the third party who gets access to the network and hospital system. The information in the system can only be modified using one modifiable file this ensures data is correct and precise. On patients with long-term illness, their medical history can be retrieved, and his/her development studied for precise treatment depending on the development. Hacking and malicious intentions are the prominent problems.The systems can be hacked and patients medical information stolen and used for unscrupulous deeds (Amatayakul and Amatayakul 45).

Clinicians may also carelessly place their tablets or computers at insecure places where they can be stolen and patient’s information can be accessed disclosing the patient’s condition, which is always private and confidential, between the patient and clinician no third parties involved. In case of virus invasion on the system, all data may be lost leaving no records of patients especially the medical history, which is much far important as patient’s wellbeing is concerned. Illegal access to the system may cause more damage to patients since patients medical information can be exaggerated even changed leading to a wrong diagnosis and eventually wrong medications to patients.

To curb the vice, the infrastructure platform should be supported by software designs with functionalities that prevent and avert the menace. For VLANs, the administrator should issue log in details per head to the hospital staff. Developing the system needs technical expertise that may not be available or are very expensive. Computer skilled staff needs to be employed, and clinicians, doctors, and physicians need to be trained on how to use the system (Ben-Assuli 290). PORT scan software for hackers and SNIFFER tools need to be implemented to guard against attack.

Data encryption technics like ON-THE-FLY-ENCRYPTION (OTFE).Data insecurity and data breach are a major concern; many people are refusing to adopt the system for fear of misuse of their personal information in case of hacking of the system. DATA MASKING approaches on the records will aid on the privacy of confidential information. To ensure full support of the HER systems by the public and the clinicians, matters of data security must meet ISO/IEC 17799 standards and policies to fully deal with the high-tech approaches.

Works CitedAmatayakul, Margret, and Margaret K Amatayakul. Electronic Health Records. Chicago, IL: American Health Information Management Association, 2009. Print. Ben-Assuli, Ofir. 'Electronic Health Records, Adoption, Quality Of Care, Legal And Privacy Issues And Their Implementation In Emergency Departments.' Health Policy 119.3 (2015): 287-297. Web.Fetter, Marilyn S. 'Electronic Health Records And Privacy'. Issues Ment Health Nurs 30.6 (2009): 408-409. Web.