Electronic Health Records For Dummies

Addressing privacy concerns

The security and privacy of PHI will likely be a concern for patients. Reassure patients that their information is secure and accessible only by the healthcare professionals who need to access it — which was the case with their paper records.

Focus on the positive aspects of provider accessibility when you remind patients that their information is secure. The EHR helps promote faster coordination between providers (regardless of physical location), more efficient care, and gives patients access to their own information.

Who has access to their information, how it can be accessed, and what level of control they have over their PHI will be at the top of everyone’s “to ask” list. Be ready for those questions and, more importantly, be proactive about disseminating information about your security plan to your patients. Write a security FAQ, create a brochure, hold a Q&A session (both in person and via podcast), post flyers, and simply answer questions during office visits in order to fill your clients in.

According to a Harris Interactive 2010 survey, 79 percent of adults who have concerns about digital medical records report stolen records as their number one concern, followed by misuse of information (69 percent), and lost or damaged records (68 percent). ...