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U.S. residents fear lack of EMR confidentiality

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Employee Benefit Research Institute
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While most U.S. residents like the idea of having EMRs, they're concerned that their privacy won't be protected, according to a new survey by the Employee Benefit Research Institute.

More than half of respondents (55 percent) said that they felt it was extremely or very important for health care providers to use electronic records. Meanwhile, 24 percent said it was somewhat important for their providers to use EMRs, 7 percent not too important and 9 percent not important at all. Also, 43 percent of survey respondents said they would be extremely or very likely to access their health records and personal health information online, while only 21 percent reported that they weren't likely to do this.

However, the survey also found that only 12 percent of respondents were confident or extremely confident that their electronic health information would remain confidential, while 62 percent said they aren't confident that their EMRs would remain private.

To learn more about this survey:
- read this iHealthBeat piece

Related Articles:
Study: EHR adoption held back by multiple issues
Study: Consumers say EMR benefits outweigh privacy risks
Privacy concerns slow EMR push

Comments

Isn't it possible that people are more concerned with their quality of care than the confidentiality of their healthcare information? If 55% think it's very or extremely important for their providers to use electronic medical records, presumably in spite of the fact that they aren't confident that the confidentiality of these records will be maintained, then maybe a degree of the concern expressed about privacy is driven by interests outside those of patients. Of course confidentiality is important, and we need to find ways for patients to take a greater role in managing access to their medical records, but it seems that privacy is sometimes an excuse for stalling progress.

Agreed. It is also a case of risk vs. reward. Consumer require a more tangible benefit for EHRs/HIE before embracing them completely (think of the ease and convenience of online shopping and the first time you entered your personal information and credit card online). For this reason, e-Prescribing, and the ease and convenience of having your doctor electronically sending in his script and medications ready for patient pick-up upon arrival at the pharmacy may prove the greatest boon yet for advancing the broader adoption of EMRs and HIE.

It's not private now! I believe the average patient thinks, 'so who cares if someone knows my blood pressure.' I don't think they have a clue as to the information contained in their health record, like date of birth, social security number, employer, and phone numbers of your relatives and if you pay your bill on time. The informaton is already out there, esp if you have Medicare Advantage. The charts are audited by coders, not only in the US but India and elsewhere. I know, I worked for them, and I had the freedom to go all over inside the provider EMRs. I don't think we can stop info from becoming public once it's in a computer.

FYI there's an important discussion going on about these issues that ends
TONIGHT:
www.thenationaldialogue.org

It's called the National Dialogue on Health IT & Privacy. On the site, you
can contribute ideas, and read and rate others' ideas. Watch in real time as
the best ideas "rise to the top."

** The results of this online dialogue are being compiled into a report to
the Federal CIO Council, Office of Management and Budget, and the incoming
Administration by the National Academy of Public Administrators. **

Please come join us! Make sure your voice gets heard, and included in the
report, which will help shape America's Health IT policy.

Maggie, The National Dialogue

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