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Electronic Medical Records Systems Protect the Privacy of Patient Medical Records
An Electronic Health Records System can make it easier to restrict and control the access to patient charts and medical records in general. Only those who are authorized will have access to the electronic charts. The laws state that it is the practice's responsibility to do everything in your power to limit unnecessary access to confidential documents.
What better way to restrict the access to private confidential information than to remove the paper records and only allow authorized employees access to the digital images.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), was enacted in 1996 and includes provisions intended to safeguard the privacy of patient health records. HIPAA is a significant piece of legislation with onerous penalties. For a full text of the SUMMARY OF THE HIPAA PRIVACY RULE from the Department of Human Services, available online go to: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacysummary.rtf. See page 16 of this document in regards to specifically "securing records under lock and key.…and limiting access….."
Data Safeguards. A covered entity must maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent intentional or unintentional use or disclosure of protected health information in violation of the Privacy Rule and to limit its incidental use and disclosure pursuant to otherwise permitted or required use or disclosure. For example, such safeguards might include only allowing authorized personnel the access to confidential electronic records.
HIPAA LINKS
PENALTIES FOR HIPAA VIOLATIONS:
http://www.utmb.edu/compliance/hipaa/hipaa-overview.htm#penalties
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/11805.html
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacysummary.rtf