Electronic medical records' risks feared.Despite a strong push by President Bush for the majority of Americans to have computerized medical records within 10 years, Americans are not sure they want the attending privacy risks. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. David Brailer David Brailer is a public health official from the United States. Brailer was appointed the first National Health Information Technology Coordinator on May 6, 2004. In this role, he executed the actions ordered by President George W. , appointed by Bush to coordinate the move to electronic medical records (EMR (ElectroMagnetic Radiation) The emanation of energy from everything in the universe. Although the EMR from electrical and electronic devices is typically measured for practical, every-day situations, every object, including humans, emanates energy. ), there are many challenges to implementing a nationwide system, such as ensuring privacy and security so that only those with patient consent have access to the records. The U.S. public is concerned about these risks, too. According to a recent Harris Interactive Harris Interactive (NASDAQ: HPOL) is an American market research company that specializes in public opinion research using both telephone and surveys on online panels. The company is the product of a 1996 merger between the Gordon S. Black Company and Louis Harris & Associates. study, U.S. adults are divided right down the middle on whether the potential privacy risks associated with an EMR system outweigh out·weigh tr.v. out·weighed, out·weigh·ing, out·weighs 1. To weigh more than. 2. To be more significant than; exceed in value or importance: The benefits outweigh the risks. the expected benefits to patients and society. Half of U.S. adults--48 percent--said the benefits of an EMR system to patients and society outweigh the privacy risks, but 47 percent said the privacy risks are not worth the anticipated benefits. Four percent said they were not sure. Between 62 and 70 percent of those surveyed expressed concern about the following: * Sensitive health information might leak because of weak data security. * There could be more sharing of patients' medical information without their knowledge or consent. * Computerization com·put·er·ize tr.v. com·put·er·ized, com·put·er·iz·ing, com·put·er·iz·es 1. To furnish with a computer or computer system. 2. To enter, process, or store (information) in a computer or system of computers. could increase rather than decrease medical errors. * Some people will not disclose necessary information to healthcare providers because of worries that it will go into electronic records. * Existing federal health privacy rules will be reduced in the name of efficiency. While it may be many years before coordinators are able to set up a national EMR system, states are taking initiative. For example, the Kentucky legislature has passed a measure designed to create a statewide electronic health network. The legislation creates a healthcare information-sharing network that allows the state's doctors to easily access patient data or the latest research on a patient's condition. Planning for the network will be done by a special panel appointed by Gov. Ernie Fletcher Ernest Lee Fletcher (born November 12, 1952) has served as governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky since December 9, 2003. He is a member of the Republican Party. Biography , who is expected to sign the bill. Whether on a state or national level, many experts say public acceptance will be critical to EMR systems' success--or will be a major factor in their failure. |
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