Medical computers are now a lot more common in hospitals than paper charts. That’s because there has been a general shift towards the electronic storage of medical records. These records are stored on your medical practitioner’s electronic health records (EHRs) system. The number one questions patients ask about EHRs is this – Are my medical files safe online?
Even before the use of EHRs became widespread, there were a lot of concerns raised about safety and privacy. This contributed to the passage of the far reaching medical privacy law known as Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). However, there are some parties that are exempt from HIPAA requirements.
HIPAA establishes provisions for safeguarding the privacy and security of health information. As a result, developers of EHR technology have made every effort to ensure that their medical computers meet these guidelines.
Are medical records safe?
Health care providers have put safeguards in place to ensure the privacy of health information.These include:
- Encryption of data: Data encryption technology protects EMR systems, by coding them to ensure that they can only be viewed by the intended recipient.
- Patient portals: These are secure online tools that some electronic record systemsoffer, which allow physicians and patients to communicate privately.
- Administrative controls: Many health care providers establish privacypolicies and procedures, and also ensure that employees undergo privacy and security training.
While there have been instances in which unauthorized users have gained access to medical records, it is not a frequent occurrence.
Onyx Healthcare USA, Inc, Orange, CA is a leading provider of certified EHR technology, so all our solutions for health care companies and medical device companies are secure.
Call us today at714-792-0774 to schedule a consultation, and find out more about our products.