Partners Healthcare System Case - Essay Example

This is a major problem that much is addressed.  An evaluation of the transformation at PHS has revealed that such a system could inevitably compromise the safety of any patient’s complete medical record.  Thus, any health care professional on the network would have access to records—and could potentially ruin a patient’s safety and security by simply gaining access to records or allowing someone else to access those records without proper authorization.  This problem needs fixing.

III.  How to Improve the Transformation

         How the transformation of this organization can improve, for example—would be making sure that the electronic medical records, or EMRs, were only accessible to the correct individuals by requiring a password to be entered.  Also, everyone who looked at the medical record would have to sign off with not only initials but a full name, as well as the institution or hospital from which the records were being accessed.  Also, a comment would have to be entered as to why the records were being accessed.  This is the only logical solution to the problem of these EMRs being possibly accessed without proper authorization.  Thusly, the system will have a way of being able to track how the medical records are being utilized.  It is so important that a system like this be put in place so that the medical records are protected from misuse or mismanagement within a hospital or other institutional setting.

1. Assessment of the Relevant Risks of Improvements

         The improvement of the system needs to include ways that the people who access the records can effectively sign off in addition to being able to describe what was the purpose that they accessed the records in the first place.  Otherwise, there will be a steady parade of people accessing the network, without necessarily any accountability as to why the network is being accessed.  Thus, every time the system is accessed, there should be different security measures in place to ensure that people don’t steal private information like Social Security numbers and so forth.  Hopefully, this problem can be solved with the assistance of some very good computer technicians.

1. Conclusion

         The security of the network of patients’ EMRs was discussed in the context of the evaluation of the transformation at PHS, the improvement of the transformation, and the assessment of the relevant risks of improvements.  Hopefully, once some security measures are implemented, then there will not be as many difficulties with the system itself, nor will it be that vulnerable anymore.