Essay on Technology Trends Proposal Part 2 Telemedicine

Some political members think the electronic medical records that will be used by all healthcare providers interchangeable are a violation of an individual privacy. “Studies have shown there are unintended consequences to EHRs that can actually cause an increase in medical errors. Two areas of concern risk management practitioners need to monitor and analyze are the effects of CPOE on nurse-physician communication and operational workflows (Cowan, L. 2013, p 29).” Therefore, from a risk management point of view computerize order provider entry has several ethical and legal

Although the EHR is still in a transitional state, this major shift that electronic medical records are taking is bringing many concerns to the table. Two concerns at the top of the list are privacy and standardization issues. In 1996, U.S. Congress enacted a non-for-profit organization called Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). This law establishes national standards for privacy and security of health information. HIPAA deals with information standards, data integrity, confidentiality, accessing and handling your medical information. They also were designed to guarantee transferred information be protected from one facility to the next (Meridan, 2007). But even with the HIPAA privacy rules, they too have their shortcomings. HIPAA can’t fully safeguard the limitations of who’s accessible to your information. A short stay at your local

Modern communications capabilities open up a world of possibilities for all types of medical practices to develop deeper connections with their patients and to manage health care remotely. The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives patients the right to obtain copies of their medical records, treatments and protected health information or PHI. These requirements go further if medical providers want to receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid -- patients must be able to access their records online, download copies and transmit the information to third-party providers. Most medical practices are finding it necessary to develop patient portals where patients and physicians can interact, share information and perform important functions such as practices billing patients and accepting payments online. HIPAA 's rules require that these patient portals have strong security and privacy protections to prevent unauthorized access of these confidential PHI records.

In a large service-related Healthcare organization with the staff to patient ratio approximately 1:100, there is a greater threat by technology of breaching security records. Medical records include information about ones physical and mental being. They may contain information about ones relationship with family members, sexual behavior, drug or alcohol problems and HIV status ( Burke & Weill, 2005). The confidentiality is threatened when the medical records information is put on the Internet, by use of telemedicine, and by the use of e-mail by healthcare workers. Although this is the fastest way to store and share

Another downfall or disadvantage of using this software is the concerns of client’s security. Most individuals think a disadvantage would be the security vulnerability for the client’s medical records. The ultimate concern is that hackers are still out there and may steal client’s personal information and possible compromise their identity. It does not matter how many password encryptions, security features added, and firewalls are put up, hackers can get in there. However, there are also companies that specialize in security measures for the maintenance of Electronic Health Records software.

In this paper we identify security risks surrounding Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and discuss strategies healthcare providers can employ to mitigate those risks. We begin with a brief overview of the legislative history driving the rapid adoption of EMR and other health information technology.

The article focuses on the privacy laws associated with electronic health records (EHRs) and need to increase efficiency and cost reduction in healthcare. It explains that the federal government should regulate a national network of EHRs to minimize waste associated with the current EHR framework of fragmented networks to maximize the cost saving effect of EHR, thereby greatly reducing costs in healthcare nationwide. The article discusses how healthcare providers should

Data privacy is vital to healthcare organizations and the health information they store. Johns (YEAR) defines data security as “a collection of protection measures and practices that safeguard data, computers, and associated resources from undesired occurrences and exposures” (p. 207). To protect their information, organizations must develop a data security program to meet the needs of Health Information Portability Accountability Act (HIPAA), stakeholders, and the business’s needs. Additionally following the guidelines set by HIPAA is key to being in compliance with the law. These programs differ depending on the organizations that are required to establish them, however, they all follow the same steps in creating and implementing this program

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.), the migration of healthcare providers to using electronic health records and the wide-spread use of computer and web based applications motivated the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop regulations for protecting the privacy and security of Private health Information (PHI) of individuals. The advance in computing technology and easy storage options, led healthcare providers change their physician order entry, patient health records, pharmacy, laboratory systems, health insurance plans to fully computerized systems. While the change facilitates work efficiency and increased quality of service by ensuring greater mobility and easy access to information anywhere at any time, it adds potential security and privacy risks (Mercuri, 2004). HIPAA requires that every covered entity keep the privacy of individuals and implement acceptable form of security to protect the integrity, availability and confidentiality of private health information. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (n.d.), the goal of the Security Rule is to safeguard the security of electronic private health information (ePHI) while giving more flexibility to covered entities such as healthcare providers, healthcare clearing houses and insurance companies in using new security technologies to better the quality of service and healthcare. The HIPAA Security Rule is updated on a regular basis

Hospitals and other medical facilities can possibly be sued for medical malpractice and negligence among other charges due to patient’s information being compromised.

     Abstract:  Electronic medical databases and the ability to store medical files in them have made our lives easier in many ways and riskier in others.  The main risk they pose is the safety of our personal data if put on an insecure an insecure medium.  What if someone gets their hands on your information and uses it in ways you don't approve of? Can you stop them?  To keep your information safe and to preserve faith in this invaluable technology, the issue of access must be addressed.  Guidelines are needed to establish who has access and how they may get it.  This is necessary for the security of the information a, to preserve privacy, and to maintain existing benefits.

In the last 13 years, as with all aspects of the medical field the responsibilities of the privacy officer have grown as new policies, technology, and data-sharing programs have evolved (Dimick, 2012, p. 21). The privacy officer needs to be knowledgeable about all aspects of the facility and have administration over the facility’s computer system to guard against privacy violations (Gillin, 2002). With the ongoing advancements of today’s technologies it is important that the privacy officer “be current on emerging technologies and the impact they can have on patient privacy” (Dimick, 2012, p.

In the mid-90’s, the internet and various advanced technologies were an unescapable part of everyday life. The World Wide Web, computers, and software became common place fixtures in any business or health care related profession. While these advances increased workplace efficiency and the ease in which one could access company and patient information, it opened organizations and individuals up to security breaches and unsecured information. Overall, these developments brought to light the need for enhanced security and patient control over medical records and treatment. In 1996, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted by Congress and has become a legal standard in healthcare and method of ensuring

Information technology(IT) in the 21st century has brought in several innovative changes in the physician practice and hospital system.There are several new possibilities and opportunities for information use and communication, at the same time there are new ethical, clinical, and legal concerns that have arisen with the use of information technology.As healthcare is growing complex, the majority of the studies focuses on new modalities of diagnosis and treatment.Conversely, no effort is targeted on improving operational systems.Although IT has brought in a mass customization, it poses threat to the medical safety ( Jorgenson, Notman, Benedek, & Malmquist, 2011). Recently, privacy and security concerns

In a world full of electronics it would only seem logical to have health records electronic. Not only are medical records efficient, reliable, and quick to access, new technology allow patients to access their own personal medical records with a simple to use login and password. “People are asking whether any kind of electronic records can be made safe. If one is looking for a 100% privacy guarantee, the answer is no”(Thede, 2010). At my hospital, upon every admission we ask the patient for a password for friends and family to have to have if they would like an update on the patient 's condition. We do not let visitors come up and see the patient without the patient 's consent. In doing these things, we help to ensure the safety and protection of the patient 's health information and privacy.