Electronic Medical Records' Risks Feared

Information Management Journal, May/Jun 2005 by Swartz, Nikki

Despite a strong push by President Bush for the majority of Americans to have computerized medical records within 10 years, Americans are not sure they want the attending privacy risks.

According to David Brailer, appointed by Bush to coordinate the move to electronic medical records (EMR), there are many challenges to implementing a nationwide system, such as ensuring privacy and security so that only those with patient consent have access to the records.

The U.S. public is concerned about these risks, too. According to a recent Harris Interactive study, U.S. adults are divided right down the middle on whether the potential privacy risks associated with an EMR system outweigh the expected benefits to patients and society.

Half of U.S. adults - 48 percent - said the benefits of an EMR system to patients and society outweigh the privacy risks, but 47 percent said the privacy risks are not worth the anticipated benefits. Four percent said they were not sure. Between 62 and 70 percent of those surveyed expressed concern about the following:

* Sensitive health information might leak because of weak data security.

* There could be more sharing of patients' medical information without their knowledge or consent.

* Computerization could increase rather than decrease medical errors.

* Some people will not disclose necessary information to healthcare providers because of worries that it will go into electronic records.

* Existing federal health privacy rules will be reduced in the name of efficiency.

While it may be many years before coordinators are able to set up a national EMR system, states are taking initiative. For example, the Kentucky legislature has passed a measure designed to create a statewide electronic health network. The legislation creates a healthcare information-sharing network that allows the state's doctors to easily access patient data or the latest research on a patient's condition. Planning for the network will be done by a special panel appointed by Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who is expected to sign the bill.

Whether on a state or national level, many experts say public acceptance will be critical to EMR systems' success - or will be a major factor in their failure.