Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems are a powerful tool for healthcare providers and patients. Both groups benefit from unified, easily accessible record management; however, EHR systems also bring new threats to patient privacy. The reach of electronic patient data extends far beyond the healthcare realm. Patients are managing their own health records through personal health record (PHR) service providers, and businesses outside of the healthcare industry are finding themselves increasingly linked to medical data. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule and other regulatory measures establish baseline standards for protecting patient privacy, but the inclusion of medical images in patient records presents unique challenges. Medical images often require specialized management tools, and some medical images may reveal a patient’s identity or medical condition through re-linkage or inherent identifiability. After exploring EHR systems in-depth and reviewing health information policy, the chapter explores how privacy challenges associated with EHR systems and medical images can be mitigated through the combined efforts of technology, policy, and legislation designed to reduce the risk of re-identification.
Improving Patient Access to Medical Images by Integrating an Imaging Portal With the Electronic Health Record Patient Portal
