A new study published by researchers from North Carolina State University suggests the public is slow to accept the concept of an electronic health record due to "insufficient privacy protections," according to a NCSU news release.
Despite a general agreement among healthcare industry leaders and experts that EHRs could significantly reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve patient safety, a lack of public support stemming from privacy concerns has hindered acceptance of EHRs, researchers say.
The study compares the prevalence of EHRs in the U.S. to Europe, which has much more stringent regulations over privacy. As a result, researchers found 95 percent in people in Holland use EHRs, while 50 percent of people in the U.S. use them. The study also includes a list of technical and legal recommendations on EHR privacy issues. One recommendation it makes is introducing civil penalties if people share information inappropriately or with inappropriate parties, according to the news release.
Read the news release about NCSU's study "Privacy and Security in the Implementation of Health Information Technology (Electronic Health Records): U.S. and EU Compared."
Read other coverage about privacy issues in healthcare information technology:
- Government Panel Rules Health Information Exchanges Must Have Patient Consent
- Newspaper Warns Patient Data in Hospital EMR Systems Not Secure
- HHS Begins Posting Data Breach Information Online
Despite a general agreement among healthcare industry leaders and experts that EHRs could significantly reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve patient safety, a lack of public support stemming from privacy concerns has hindered acceptance of EHRs, researchers say.
The study compares the prevalence of EHRs in the U.S. to Europe, which has much more stringent regulations over privacy. As a result, researchers found 95 percent in people in Holland use EHRs, while 50 percent of people in the U.S. use them. The study also includes a list of technical and legal recommendations on EHR privacy issues. One recommendation it makes is introducing civil penalties if people share information inappropriately or with inappropriate parties, according to the news release.
Read the news release about NCSU's study "Privacy and Security in the Implementation of Health Information Technology (Electronic Health Records): U.S. and EU Compared."
Read other coverage about privacy issues in healthcare information technology:
- Government Panel Rules Health Information Exchanges Must Have Patient Consent
- Newspaper Warns Patient Data in Hospital EMR Systems Not Secure
- HHS Begins Posting Data Breach Information Online