Consumers, security and electronic health records

Abstract

Health care has entered the electronic domain. This domain has improved data collection and storage abilities while allowing almost instantaneous access and results to data queries. Furthermore it allows direct communication between healthcare providers and health consumers. The development of privacy, confidentiality and security principles are necessary to protect consumers’ interests against inappropriate access. The electronic health systems vendors have dominated the transition of media, claiming it will improve the quality and coherence of the care process. However, numerous studies show that the health consumer is the important stakeholder in this process, and their views are suggesting that the electronic medium is the way forward, but not just yet. With the international push towards Electronic Health Records (EHRs) by the Health and Human Services (United States of America), National Health Service (United Kingdom), Health Canada (Canada) and more recently the Ministry of Health (New Zealand), this paper presents the consumers’ role with a focus on their perceptions on the security of EHRs. A description of a study, looking at the New Zealand health consumer, is given.